A FOOLPROOF RECORD OF 100%

This headmistress, who has a track record of full-pass in all her classes for the past 17 years, was instrumental in the infrastructure development of multiple government schools, which helped in improving enrolment

- SUBASHINI VIJAYAKUMAR

Malathy, a postgraduate English teacher, is nicknamed '100%' for her track record of full-pass in all her classes, throughout a 17-year tenure. When she started working as a postgraduate teacher in 1998, at the age of 25, she was unsure of ways to make a difference in teaching. "I remember a chief education officer (CEO) asking me to take a pledge that no students will fail in my subject. I took that pledge and have managed to keep it going for 17 years. I prioritised students who were slow learners. It is a simple strategy that has always worked like a charm. There have been cases where students who scored poorly in other subjects, managed to score over 80% in English," a proud Malathy said. During her stint as a PG teacher, she also lent her voice to the 'Hello English CD' that was used in the government schools of Namakkal to improve students' conversational English skills.

When she walked into the Perunagar Government Higher Secondary School in Kancheepuram after being promoted as the headmistress in 2017, she found the school's conditions appalling.