- 09 May, 2026
Chennai, May 9, 2026: In an inspiring story of perseverance and academic excellence, V. Sandhya, daughter of autorickshaw driver R. Saravanan, emerged as the topper of her school in the Tamil Nadu Class 12 board examinations by scoring an extraordinary 595 out of 600 marks. Her achievement has become a symbol of hope and determination for students from economically weaker backgrounds across the state.
Sandhya, a student of Government Girls Higher Secondary School, broke down in tears after learning about her exceptional result. Despite the financial challenges faced by her family, she remained focused on her studies and achieved centum scores in Accountancy, Commerce, and Economics in the commerce stream.
Speaking about her preparation, Sandhya said she deliberately stayed away from mobile phones and social media to avoid distractions. During her revision examinations, she had scored between 570 and 580 marks and never expected such an outstanding final result.
“I dedicate this achievement to my parents and teachers, especially my Tamil teacher who treated me like her own daughter,” she said emotionally after the results were announced.
Sandhya’s journey reflects the sacrifices made by her family for her education. Her father, R. Saravanan, earns between ₹15,000 and ₹20,000 a month as an autorickshaw driver. Due to financial difficulties, he had to move Sandhya from a private school in Ashok Nagar to the government school after Class 10 because he could no longer afford the annual fees.
Despite these hardships, Sandhya remained determined to excel academically. She had earlier scored 464 out of 500 in her Class 10 examinations before choosing the commerce stream for higher secondary education. Inspired by the struggles faced by her parents, she now dreams of becoming a Chartered Accountant and plans to begin preparing for the CA Foundation course.
“There were times when my father struggled financially. I want to become financially independent and support my parents,” Sandhya said.
Her father expressed immense pride in her achievement and confidence in her future. “I am confident she will succeed in whatever she chooses,” Saravanan said.
The school itself recorded an impressive 99.4% pass percentage this year, with 686 students appearing for the Tamil Nadu Higher Secondary Certificate examinations. School headmistress K. Vasuki praised the efforts of students and teachers and highlighted the role government schools continue to play in supporting students from financially weaker families.
“Government schools continue to support students from economically weaker families,” Vasuki said.
Tamil Nadu as a whole recorded a remarkable 95.20% overall pass percentage in the Class 12 board examinations this year. Girls outperformed boys with a 97% pass percentage, while boys recorded 93.19%. Across the state, 2,639 schools achieved a 100% pass result, including 489 government schools. Computer Science recorded the highest number of centums, with 6,945 students scoring full marks.
Sandhya’s achievement stands as a powerful reminder that success is not determined by wealth or privilege, but by dedication, discipline, and resilience. Her story has inspired many students and parents alike, proving that even under difficult circumstances, education can transform lives and create opportunities for a brighter future.
Courtesy : a) The Hindu
Picture Courtesy : VELANKANNI RAJ B
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