For 17-year-old S. Dharmashree from Kolli Hills in Namakkal district, being an engineer was a long-held dream. She had heard people talking about it but wasn’t sure about the process or what it entailed. Until her Maths teacher at the Eklavya Model Residential School, Abinavam, told her about the admission process and the various engineering streams, and that she would have to clear the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE).

Now, in the first round of counselling, she has secured a seat in the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Tiruchi in the Metallurgical and Material Engineering stream. “I am really happy. I am the first person in my family to pursue higher education and hope to make my parents, who are farmers, really proud,” she said. Like Dharmashree, five others — Bharath S., Sivakanth A., Divakar A., Prasanth S. and Niranjana R. — from schools run by the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department have secured seats in premier institutions. While three of them have secured admission in NIT-Tiruchi, the others have got seats in Puducherry Technological University, NIT-Puducherry and NIT-Andhra Pradesh.

The department, over the last couple of years, has been making efforts to ensure that all students pursue higher education. From career guidance to dedicated study camps, it has been ensuring more students enter higher education. Many of them have also secured admission in the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) and hotel management and tourism colleges across the country.

Along with them, 18 students have secured admission in the Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology. T. Dhanam, principal of the Eklavya Model Residential School, added that the teachers take every opportunity available to talk about careers to students. “From which group to take up in Class 11 to the application process, we guide them at every step,” she said. The teachers, with the help of the department, also pool money for their students’ applications.

Dharmashree attended two camps during her Class 12 year to prepare for JEE Mains and Advanced. “We would wake up at 5.30 a.m. and begin classes with periodic breaks to freshen up. From 5 p.m. onwards, we took up practice sessions on questions based on our lessons to prepare. We also consulted our teachers to clear any doubts that might arise during this time,” Dharmashree said.

Prashanth, hailing from Jawadhu Hills and a student of the Government Tribal Residential School, Attiyanur, recalled his teachers’ support in ensuring he reached his exam centre and the residential camp. “My chemistry teacher ensured that I got to the camp and back. He’s been a huge pillar of support,” he added.

As the students enter a new phase in their life, they are now undergoing preparatory training for it. They are taking lessons in spoken English, basic computer and PowerPoint skills, and counselling. “We are equipping the students with the skills to ensure that they can thrive in their environment,” said an official.