Don't waste time on tuitions, says Kerala topper

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In the 10th ICSE, S. Meenakshi of Holy Angels ISC School, Thiruvananthapuram got the third rank at the national level and was also the State topper. She has got a piece of advice for all students and parents - not to go for tuition because without the help of external coaching she aggregated 99 per cent results. 15-year-old Meenakshi's joy knew no bounds when Deccan Chronicle alerted her of her individual scores (English - 98, Mathematics - 99, History, Civics and Geography - 100, Science - 99, Computer Applications - 99 , English + Best Four Subjects - 495) with an aggregate of 99 per cent.

Meenakshi is the only child of Satish Karunakaran, junior employment officer at the Employment directorate and Devi Krishna, junior superintendent at agriculture directorate. She told Deccan Chronicle that she did not follow a set timetable to study every day, but ensured that the daily portions taught at the school were thorough before going to bed. "I will not advice anyone to go for tuition as you are wasting so much time travelling and getting ready. One can actually save that time too and concentrate more on studies at home. Fortunately, my parents also never insisted that I should go for tuition", said Meenakshi who resides at East Thoppu (Souparnika) at Anayara.

She is keen to take up Maths/Computer stream for her 12th grade and wishes to get admission in one of the top IITs eventually. An elated Meenakshi couldn't hide her joy and said if not for her teachers at Holy Angels ISC School at Nanthencode, her national level third rank and Kerala's first rank would not have been attainable. She feels that since she did not go for tuitions, she got extra help from her teachers, friends and parents. Meenakshi does not forget the intervention of the Almighty too as she could complete her daily portions without much difficulty. "For the next two years, I will not be pursuing individual tuition. But I will be undergoing weekend entrance coaching at one of the schools at Keston Road here where Brilliant Pala has started their contact classes", added Meenakshi who has been a student of Holy Angels ISC School since her kindergarten days.