Chennai: With no money for private tuition, her father earning barely 500-600 a day as a daily wager, K Mythili from Aminjikarai turned to free coaching at her GCC school and alternatives to prepare for her Class XII board exams. On Friday, Mythili saw the fruit of her hard work as she became the topper among Greater Chennai Corporation schools with 593 marks. The commerce student scored three centums and now hopes to become a chartered accountant. “I couldn’t afford tuition classes. My teachers constantly guided me and my classmates through phone calls and WhatsApp. The school conducted evening coaching classes and provided snacks too. We didn’t need private tuition,” Mythili told TOI. Her father, Ananda Kumar, said the family was under severe financial stress but never had to worry about educational expenses because the corporation school provides everything for free. “I’m very happy she came first,” he said.Mythili’s mother, Siva Bharathi, said she ensured her daughter stayed away from distractions such as social media reels and TV. “Her younger sister is also studying in the same school. The quality of education is very good,” she said.Thanking her parents and teachers, Mythili said technology also helped her a lot in exam preparation. “ChatGPT helped me understand concepts better while studying,” she said.
