Children in elite English-medium schools can aim to become anything, from a cinematographer to a cardiac surgeon, from an RJ to a real estate lawyer. But, government school students, on the other hand, have very little exposure to the mind-boggling career options.
Bridging the gap, students of elite schools, who are part of the Young Fellow Leadership Programme School initiated by Tarapore School, Agrico, and mentored by B-school XLRI, will host a career fair — Pahal-Kal Hai Hamara — for government schoolchildren on XLRI campus here on Thursday.
Around 500 government school students are expected at the career fair where they would get to know what opportunities lies beyond conventional professions such as teaching, engineering or medical.
Sixteen fellows from top 11 schools, including Loyola, Sacred Heart, DBMS, KSMS, Little Flower School, Gulmohur, JH Tarapore, Jusco School South Park, were selected as part of The Young Fellow Leadership Programme, a four-month leadership programme from August to December.
Principal of Tarapore School, Amy Billimoria, said the focus for fellows this year was rural education and the career fair for government school children was broadly a part of it.
“Every year, the theme for the fellowship will change. We want bright youngsters, who have been selected as fellows, to widen their perspective,” she said, when asked about the fellowship. In all, 135 students from 22 schools had applied for the fellowship this year. The selection process started in May and results were declared in July. All the selected fellows belong to classes X, XI and XII.
Since July, selected fellows have been working with government schools in Mosabani block in East Singhbhum — Matigora High School, Kulgora High School and Chapri High School. In all three, changes are visible. At Matigora, a group of fellows have formed a computer and stitching club. At Kulgora, fellows teach mathematics and English to their government school counterparts using innovative tools. At Chapri, fellows have helped schoolchildren to create a students’ corner and paint the school wall.
Lekhani Raja, a Class XII student of JH Tarapore School and one of the 16 fellows, said they thought of the career fair after coming to personally know government schoolchildren in the Mosabani schools. “They have so much potential but lack exposure.
The fair will have competent professionals to help these students recognise which careers they are best suited for,” she said.
Billimoria also added she had great hopes from the career fair for government schoolchildren.
“When we started the fellowship, we never imagined the kind of extended impact that it would have,” she said. “It gives me great pleasure to see the kind of commitment displayed by the fellows. They’re proving to be great future leaders.”