CHENNAI: When the water came pouring into their house in West Mambalam, R Sailasree and her family sought refuge on the upper storey and terrace of their two-storied house. A day later, they were able to move to her brother-in-law's house in Annanagar. While they are safe and sound, she and her husband are now worried how their son, R Hariharan, will cope with his studies. Apart from missing almost a month of school, all his second term books have been washed away.
(People who want books can WhatsApp Vivin at 9677035963, or Vivek at 9566180758. If you want to help SCGOBN, you can drop off books at B 12/12, 25th Cross Street, Besant Nagar or contact Chandrasekhar at 9884224480)
Educational institutions are planning to reach out and reassure students once they come back to school. "We can check availability of textbooks and get them. Or else, we can photocopy it. We will also be offering counselling to instill confidence in students and parents," says Vael's Billabong High International School principal Meenakshi Ramesh, adding that they are planning to hold classes for class 10 and 12 students on Sundays.
School counsellors will also be talking to students as many may be stressed after having their homes flooded, or anxious about completing the portions and dealing with the exams. "Trauma is trauma, whether it is the floods or exams," says Magdalene Jeyarathnam, founder, Center for Counselling, which also does counselling in schools.