“I am happy and satisfied. The students and teachers have overcome many obstacles since the lockdown started and have reached this point,” exclaims Geeta, the principal of the Rural Development Trust (RDT)’s Professional School of Languages. The school’s students who had hurriedly left for their homes when the lockdown began back in March were finally able to complete their exams.

Professional School students writing their A1, A2 and B1 exams at Kuderu. ©RDT

Students who studied German, French or Spanish and worked on their English and soft skills here completed their exams which were held on July 6th – 8th.

“We have kept all social distancing rules in mind to make sure everybody is safe during these exams. They are required to bring their own material, including their own sanitizers. We have arranged the desks accordingly,” says José Antonio, the course coordinator.

For the students, the journey has been a tumultuous one. The 101 students had to forsake their studies with heavy hearts after having completed almost seven months in the residential setting. From then on, they began online classes like many other schools and institutes, but the experience came with its own set of problems.

“At the Professional School in BKS (Bukkarayasamudram) I didn’t have any problem to study because we had our teachers and peers with whom we could easily communicate face to face. But many of us live in remote villages and we have network issues. Living with the family also means disturbances during the class hours,” says Usha Rani, who hails from a small village in Kadiri and studied German at the school.

“I used the phone to refer to the notes and resources and to attend classes but my mother used to get angry because she assumed I was playing games on my phone. I have prepared and tried my best for these exams but it has not been easy.”

©RDT 2020

The network issue caused a hindrance for most of these students who reside in villages in different regions.

Geeta recalls, “Initially we were not satisfied with the way things were going because students were complaining of connectivity on their phones, the rapport was not the same as in the classroom. It was a new method for everybody. But slowly the teachers and students worked on each aspect together.”

Another student, Srikanth, who joined this course after completing his mechanical engineering track, expresses his joy upon completing these exams. “Earlier, even though the classes were ongoing there was uncertainty looming over us. At one point I thought that conducting these exams would not be possible in this situation. But everything has fallen into place, thanks to our teachers and course coordinators.”

©RDT 2020

Following the completion of the course, the students will now be able to successfully compete in the job market, a task that they are all eagerly awaiting.

Harshith Gariga, who previously provided input about the ongoing classes in June, excitedly says, “I have shared my CV on many websites and with companies and they have shown interest. I think there many opportunities out there; the only thing needed is our certificates, hard work and motivation.”

Adding to this optimism of the students, Geeta shares, “We were receiving enquiries about candidate requirements for job by the human resources department of different companies even before the exams were conducted. I am constantly sharing the students’ CVs and keeping in touch with these companies.”

Photo by Felita Viegas

This is a moment of jubilation for all. Contrary to the expectations of many, the academic year has ended as it was normally scheduled.

“Now that the exams are completed, I have a sense of fulfillment as well as uncertainty.  Fulfillment that we have completed the course and uncertainty about the future, given these times. We have plans to increase the number of students in the next batch because a course like this is crucial in providing skills to rural graduates who have limited opportunities and resources. We are working on planning the best way forward from here,” José Antonio declares with a beaming smile.

Pictures and Text: Felita Viegas, adapted by Vicente Ferrer Foundation USA