The archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore has launched the John Demonte Academy of Excellence in San Thome to provide coaching and guidance to youths who wish to appear for the public service commission exams held by the state and by the centre for jobs at both levels.
This academy’s courses are primarily meant for Catholics but the day-scholar programme planned in San Thome will also accommodate non-Catholics.
The coaching programmes vary for different exams – covering state public services, union public services, railways, police, insurance and banking.
Candidates who wish to apply must be either doing their final year of an under-graduate course or be under-grads who have passed a course. They must be in the 19 – 35 years age group.
There are wholly residential programmes, with boarding to be provided in a San Thome campus, day-time only programmes and weekend coaching programmes which will be held at nine centres spread across the city and fringe zones covered by the diocese, this to enable local youths who want easy access to attend weekend classes.
A core team of faculty will handle the coaching, supported by retired officers from various professional streams who will provide special lectures. Mentors are being appointed to closely guide a set of students through the programme they attend.
The fees will be far lower than what are charged by private, well-known coaching centres, to make the courses viable for youths from the middle-income group, says Fr. Anthony Sebastian, the director of this centre who doubles up as principal of Christ College, Kilachery.
Free, introductory sessions are being launched now to acquaint youths on the various courses available to them and the main courses will be launched in June this year.
Contacts: E-mail – jdacademy2021@gmail.com. Web site URL – www.jdacademyofexcellence.in
