Tamil teachers’ exam is under way

EXAMINATIONS for the Diaspora Tamil Teachers Diploma Course – the first of its kind in South Africa – are under way.

Almost 70 students from across the country are participating in the examinations which are being run by the SRM University in Chennai, India.

The course, which is normally conducted online, was tailor-made to suit South African students.

Funded by the International Movement for Tamil Culture (IMTC), the course will seek to produce capable Tamil teachers in the country who will be able to cope with technological advancement in teaching the language.

According to the Africa chairman for IMTC, Mickey Chetty, South Africa has the highest number of students in the course worldwide.

“The course started in January and

Tamil teachers write their examinations. The course started in January. has created a re-awakening among Tamil scholars and teachers in the country. We strongly believe that the students from this course will be able to set the pace in terms of how Tamil is being taught in South Africa,” said Chetty.

He said the examinations were set by SRM University and the institution’s head of department, Professor Ila Sundaram, was in South Africa to facilitate the examinations.

Locally, students are lectured by South African Tamil stalwarts Dr Ganas Murugan, Kistan Chinnapen, Dr AM Pillay, and Tharma Kumari.

Lectures take place at three centres in KwaZulu-Natal and one centre in Gauteng.

“We are looking forward to seeing the immense benefit that this course will have on the propagation of the Tamil language in South Africa.

“The fact that there are so many elderly people that are hitting the books again is most heartwarming,” said Chetty.

The course ends in December. IN HINDUISM snakes are deemed sacred and in honour of the cobra a festival known as Naag Panchami will be observed on Friday.

During the festival prayers and offerings are made to Lord Shiva, who is known as the Holder of the Serpent, and the deity Manasaa, who is considered the Goddess of Serpents.

Snake worship no doubt owes its origin to man's natural fear of these reptiles.

Hindu mythologies are filled with stories and fables about snakes.