Shining examples of schools in neighbourhood

| S VENKATESHWARAN |
New Prince Shri Bhavani Senior Secondary School,
Adambakkam, and New Prince Matriculation School,
Ullagaram, were selected and received the Times Education
Icons Awards 2025–26 in January, presented by a national
newspaper.
School secretary, Mrs. V.S. Mahalakshmi, at Adambakkam,
said they initially did not even plan to participate in the contest.
Later, they decided to fill out the application form just to try.
More than 140 schools across Chennai, including CBSE,
Matriculation and play schools, had applied.
Out of them, only m3 schools were selected and published in
the official list. Both their schools were chosen under the
category ‘Excellent School – National’.
Mrs. Mahalakshmi said they felt very proud and happy to
receive the award. “It gives us happiness, but, at the same
time, it makes us feel more responsible. This is not the end. It
encourages us to achieve more,” she said.
Mrs. Mahalakshmi also spoke about the founder and chairman,
Mr. K. Loganathan, who is her husband. She said he struggled
a lot in his early life for education and travelled long distances
to study. With the aim of providing quality education to all,
especially the needy, he started the first school in 1984 in a

rented building at Ullagaram with 80 students under the name
of his mother, Mrs. Abarangee Ammal Educational Society.
From the beginning, the institution has followed a no-capitation
policy and kept the fees affordable. She proudly shared that
children of daily wage workers, doctors and IAS officers study
together in their schools, as they strongly believe in equality.
Today, the institution has grown steadily with four higher
secondary schools – 2 Matriculation and 2 CBSE schools –
educating thousands of students.
Many teachers have been serving the institution for more than
35 years, which Mrs. Mahalakshmi said was their greatest
strength.
Their son Dr. L. Naveen Prasad is the vice chairman and their
daughter Archana L is the vice chairperson, continuing the
family’s dedication to education.