31 May 2016

Exam results, further education and how to find the fees!

The results of those 'national exams' that were taken by 10th year students in April are now published. Helping our young people to decide on whether to take the equivalent of our A levels, to follow alternative studies or take vocational training courses has begun. These post tenth year studies are known as '10+2' and are undertaken at an 'Intermediate College'.

The headache of finding the funding for the students, the various fees,(admission, tuition fees, exam fees and the inevitable extras), the text books, buying the college uniform, arranging transport (bikes or bus fares) all fall upon Victor  and Mary, Directors of Brighter Future India. The cost is now around £300 pounds a student for Inter College. Six students are qualified to enter first year Inter college and three more may decide that they want to enter an Intermediate College.

It is not only the new student who need funding those now entering their second year of Inter need fees again,There are 9 confirmed second year students already and we are expecting another 3 to qualify soon.

The degree students  need even more funding as they are now in their second years of study. Degree students have to pay £500 a year basic fees, with prestigious courses like Engineering costing more.

This year we have two young people who are embarking on a nursing career  where fees are similar to those for a degree.

Another new course this year is for some of our boys, who are not academically inclined, or who are behind in their studies, and hence are in classes below their chronological age, because were severely disadvantaged by being denied education as  HIV/AIDS orphans. This opportunity for a 'second chance' to get a vocational training in plumbing, electrical installation or mobile phone repairing has been given to some of our students through the generosity of an English family trust who have given Brighter Future a special grant. The trust have provided for the extension of an existing building at Shanti Nivas so that there are now three classroom/laboratories, equipped with all the necessary tools, and teachers, to accommodate up to 10 young people. There will be foundation courses in basic maths, Telugu, computer studies and English as well as the specialist subjects. The idea is to give the young people a basic level of a trade skill that will enable them to be employable despite their HIV status.

Victor is approaching all the educational institutions to ask them for a 10% discount for our children but this June the
total fees will be over £7551 !

Another dilemma is fitting the students to the college. The best colleges fill up quickly. Courses vary and the young people have to decide which subjects they want to study.

Please keep  all our students in your mind, not only those who have passed but also those who have failed, and those taking re-takes next week. It is a very traumatic and stressful time for them and they need your love and support.