Super 30
| Super 30 | |
|---|---|
 Successful Super 30 students | |
| Location | |
 Patna, India | |
| Information | |
| Type | private |
| Established | 2002 |
| Founder | Anand Kumar |
| Website | www.super30.org |
Super 30 is an Indian educational program that started in Patna, Bihar, India under the banner of 'Ramanujan School of Mathematics', by Anand Kumar. Established in 2002, the program selects 30 meritorious and talented candidates each year from economically backward sections of society and trains them for the IIT-JEE, the entrance examination for Indian Institute of Technology.[1] Time Magazine has selected mathematician Anand Kumar's school - Super 30 - in the list of Best of Asia 2010.,[2][3] Super 30 received praise from United States President Barack Obama's special envoy Rashad Hussain, who termed it the “best” institute in the country.[4] Newsweek Magazine has taken note of the initiative of mathematician Anand Kumar’s Super 30 and included his school in the list of four most innovative schools in the world.[5] Anand Kumar has been awarded the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Shiksha Puraskar, the highest award by the Government of Bihar in November 2010.[6]
History
In 2002, Anand Kumar came up with the idea of Super 30, wherein, he would select 30 talented students from economically impoverished sections who could not afford IIT coaching, through word of mouth and hone their skills and prepare them to crack the IIT-JEE. Anand Kumar's Mother, Jayanti Devi, volunteered to cook for the students while Anand tutored them, and also provided study materials and lodging for a year.
In the first year of the coaching, 18 of the 30 students made it to IIT. The following year saw many applications from students for the second batch of Super 30, a written exam was conducted and 30 students were selected. In the year 2004, 22 out of 30 students qualified for IIT JEE and Super 30 got even more applications from hopefuls. This was followed by a murderous attack on Anand in November which he escaped and some more attempts to abort the Super 30 Center. The state government also provided security to him following the attacks and from the 2005 batch, 26 out of 30 students made it to IIT. During 2006, IIT changed the examination pattern despite which then 28 out of the Super 30 students had cleared the IIT JEE, in appreciation of their efforts, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar felicitated the students with a cash prize of Rupees 50,000 each. The following year 28 more students achieved the IIT dream and finally in 2008, all of the Super 30 cleared the IIT JEE. Anand's former students also joined as teachers for the Super 30 and in the year 2009, all 30 students again managed to clear the IIT JEE.
Funding
Following the popularity and success of Super 30, many individuals and institutions came forward to assist financial assistance to Super 30 providing for better infrastructure, for accommodating more students, etc. However, the team decided to continue their efforts without any external financial assistance and restrict the number of students to 30. The program was still being funded only by the coaching classes held by Anand Kumar.[7]
References
- ↑ "Living the vilayat dream at home - Teacher who failed to study abroad coaches students to do so". The Telegraph (Calcutta, India). February 22, 2005.
- ↑ http://www.deccanherald.com/content/69464/math-whiz-super-30-time.html
- ↑ http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/news/national/general/5_1_6412241.html
- ↑ "Obama's special envoy hails Super 30". The Hindu (Chennai, India). August 8, 2010.
- ↑ "Super-30' incredible, says Newsweek'". The Times Of India. September 19, 2010.
- ↑ "Bihar honours Super 30 founder with top award". The Times Of India. Archived from the original on November 13, 2010.
- ↑ http://www.super30.org/rsm.html