Selcection of students started in the month of March 1999. Course director communicated through the proper channel to the head masters of higher secondary and middle schools where 8th standard classes are conducted. He got help from the chief educational officers and district educational officers of the two districts. The school head masters were kind enough to select and send three students from each school. They were allowed to write the entrance test at the college premises. Question papers were set by an examination committee. Dr. Jayabal, Scientific officer from TNSCST was deputed to supervise. 253 students from 57 schools appeared for the entrance examination. Of them 100 students were selected for two districts : 24 girls and 26 boys from Thanjavur district; 32 girls and 18 boys from Thiruvaruar District. They were selected on merit (List appended). As it is a month long residential course, the students were asked to come with their baggages for which proper instructions were given.

Selections were made from different schools so that we could get quality students from various schools. The selected students were communicated and informed to join the camp. First many parents of girl - students were hesitant to send their children for a month long programme. But on seeing the splendid campus and separate arrangements made for the girls and the boys, the parents confidently left their children to the care of the organisers. If you think for a moment how responsible the job is, you would appreciate the meticulous care taken by the staff. Many children who could not bear the separation from their parents adjusted themselves soon to the camp life. In the second phase, the programme was inaugurated by Dr. M. Rajaram, Collector of Thanjavur District, Thiru. K. Thulasiah Vandayar, Secretary of the College, and Dr. Jayabal of the TNSCST, Chennai on 3rd May 1999.

Regular classes were arranged (covering the portion of the 9th standard), comprising theory and practicals which were conducted between 9.30 A.M. and 4.30 P.M. Excellent was the teacher-student relationship. The students were taught Botany, Zoology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science and Environment. The staff were drawn from different colleges and institutions and departments of the collge (appendix-2). The class room teaching was done in English language only. Though the students of Tamil Medium felt a bit of difficulty in the beginning for two or three classes, they overcame the difficulty soon. Everyday in the morning at 5.30 A.M. students got up, spent 10 minutes for meditation:

Then yoga class or physical education class followed going upto 7.00 A.M. depending upon the group (boys/girls). Between 7.30 - 8.30 A.M. they took bath and had their breakfast and were ready for the class at 9.30 A.M.

The students were engaged for 3 hours theory classes (appendix-3). In between they were given light refeshment - coffee/tea/buttermilk. Between 12.30 & 1.30 P.M. they were given sumptuous lunch (menu changing according to the day order). Between 2.00-4.00 P.M. the students would assemble for practical classes. After finishing the practicals from 4.30 P.M. to 6.00 P.M. they were allowed to play volleyball, football, and cricket. After the games, again they would assemble for a non-texual general/popular lecture which would improve their general knowledge. After dinner at 8.00 p.m. every student was asked to write his diary and then go to bed. Thus the course was arranged for an allround development. Learning is a complex process.

Activating the students to learn is important. Classroom teaching gives only one side of the picture. The other side was sharpening the student's attitudes outside the class room. Hence on every saturday, students were taken out on sight-seeing trips.



Sunday morning hours, they were busy with their hobby, where they learnt many things on their own. They exhibited them on the last day of the programme. Sri Santhanakrishnan, DEO, on seeing all their activities voluntarily offered Rs.500/- for every school if they started a science club and a library. Nearly 60 resource persons were engaged and students were trained on meditation, yoga, hobby, music, dance, drama and other cultural activities in order to improve their appreciation of human values like tolerance, integrity, regularity, love and affection to each other, morality, neatness of behaviour and good manners which cannot be taught through books but can be impregnated into their minds only by observation. Even audio and video programmes were given with suitable materials from British council and USIS libraries. The students were also given separate library books by issuing cards to them. The 100 students were divided into 5 groups. Each group was supplied with library books to read whenever they could get time. Free books on religion were also distributed to have an integrated faith. Sri K.Muthusami, Preceptor, Ramachandra Mission, Dr. M.S. Ganesan, Secretary Ramakrishna Mission came forward to develop the spiritual values of the children. Principal Dr. S. Raman said that "this is the right age where the students can be moulded to proper shape in India". By practising meditation some students started saying that they felt better, not only physically fit but mentally alert. A simple ten minutes' meditation acted for the entire day as a health tonic.