Sainik School, Tilaiya. Telegraph file picture

Ranchi, May 23: At a time when few youths are interested in joining the defence, Jharkhand-based Sainik School, Tilaiya, has proved otherwise. The school has been awarded by the defence minister’s trophy for sending maximum number of boys to the National Defence Academy.

The award has been conferred upon the school on May 18 in Manali at the All India Sainik School Principal’s Conference.

“There are 22 Sainik schools in all, but most of them have sent less than 20 students to the defence academy. This is a great achievement on our part as we have been able to send 26 students to the academy,” said Anjani Kumar, a senior teacher-cum-media manager of the school in Tilaiya.

Gopalganj, Nawada (both in Bihar), Purulia (Bengal), Gowalpara (Assam), Ghorakhal (Assam), Riva (Madhya Pradesh), Satara (Maharashtra) and Kapurthala (Punjab) house Sainik schools.

Principal of the school Captain Mahesh Kandpal received a trophy and cash award of Rs 50,000 from state minister of defence M.M. Pallam Raju during the conference at Manali. The conference was held from May 19 to 21.

Last time, Sainik School, Tilaiya, bagged the same trophy in 1985. Besides, the school has been receiving merit certificate for the past three years as their students are coming up with good results at secondary level.

The school situated near picturesque Tilaiya dam falls under Koderma district of the state. It follows the CBSE pattern and offers education up to Plus Two-level. Students can take admission in Class VI and IX through an all-India test.

The performance of students of Sainik School, Tilaiya, at CBSE Plus Two examination in 2008 has been good. Deepankar Aryaputra of Pitamber house scored an aggregate of 82 per cent marks. Total 81 cadets appeared for the examination, out of which 76 students were placed in the first division.

Expressing satisfaction over the results, Kandpal said that the current performance should motivate the school to do well each year.