Teachers’ Day 2026: In Chennai’s Kannagi Nagar, tuition centres are more than classrooms
In Chennai's Kannagi Nagar, the Vidiyal Sudar Trust operates free tuition centres that provide academic support and a safe social space for local children. These centres have helped improve educational outcomes and reduced the risk of students engaging in negative habits after school.
Why it matters
The initiative highlights the impact of community-led education programs in underserved urban areas.
Between the lanes of Kannagi Nagar stands a modest blue shed. Plain on the outside, a closer look reveals a lively classroom within. A blackboard occupies one side of the room, while plastic chairs and toys are scattered around the space. Soon, children of different age groups begin trickling in. Vimal Raj, their teacher and co-founder, Vidiyal Sudar Trust, welcomes the students for another day of lessons.
“I provide free tuition classes to children in the neighbourhood because I know their value. I struggled with my studies when I was young and couldn’t afford to attend tuition centres for extra classes. My own experiences inspired me to start this initiative,” says Vimal Raj.
“Right now, there are more than 25 tuition centres providing free lessons in Kannagi Nagar, and they have significantly improved the quality of education for students in the neighbourhood,” he adds.
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