Bihar's Super 30 coaching idea wins high praise in Canada

Super 30, Bihar's free coaching centre which helps poor students crack the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology-Joint Entrance Examination (IIT-JEE), has won high praise in Canada.

Super 30 founder Anand Kumar was felicitated "for his remarkable way of spreading the light of education in the darkened corners of the society" at a function organized by South Asian Cultural Society in Vancouver, British Columbia, last week.

Kumar's Super 30 initiative has been getting great appreciation in Canada, including in the legislature of British Columbia province with the minister of advanced education, Naomi Yamamoto, calling him a "gifted teacher".

"Your exceptional teaching career is laudable. We proudly welcome innovators and scholars of distinction from around the world and I am pleased to welcome Anand Kumar to British Columbia for his remarkable way of spreading the light of education in the darkened corners of the society," said Yamamoto.

Last week, at the initiative of assembly member Marc Dalton, the British Columbia legislature adopted a resolution honouring Kumar and lauding Super 30 for its role in shaping the destiny of many students from poor families.

"His inspiring tale is something that can act as a big motivation for all teachers. He deserves to be honoured," Dalton said.  Later at a function in Vancouver, Dalton presented a citation on behalf of the government to Kumar. South Asian Cultural Society president Biju Mathew said Kumar was selected from a list of 70 role models from South Asia.

Kumar had set up Super 30 to prepare 30 students for the IIT-JEE in 2002, providing free boarding lodging and coaching to the selected aspirants.

In the last nine years, 236 students from Super 30 have made it to the IIT-JEE. Most of the successful candidates have been from the less privileged sections of society.