| S VENKATESHWARAN |
Mr. S. Pattabiraman, B.A., CAIB, Dip. in Cooperative & Industrial Finance, the president of Modern Senior Secondary School, Nanganallur, at 90 years, remains a dedicated leader of the school’s administration.
Mr. Pattabiraman retired as a zonal manager from State Bank’s Madras Branch in 1994. With vast experience in lending and handling SMEs, he began his association with Modern School in 1998. Since then, he has served in various roles, including as assistant secretary, joint secretary and secretary, before becoming the president.
Speaking about the school’s journey, Mr. Pattabiraman said, “I must acknowledge the hard work of our founder-members, who shaped this school with great dedication. Their efforts are remembered every day. We also thank the SBI Staff Cooperative Housing Society, Chennai, and the AG’s Office Staff Cooperative Housing Society for leasing the land that allowed the school to begin.”
The school was established in 1969 as a kindergarten with just four teachers. Over the years, it has grown to accommodate 3,000 students with 115 staff members. The school grew in strength and infrastructure over the years.
Modern School follows the CBSE syllabus from LKG to standard XII. Senior secondary students can choose subjects including Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Economics, Business Studies, Accountancy and Computer Science. The school has advanced infrastructure, including smart classrooms, audio-video learning and online education facilities. A spacious auditorium, named after Adyapakarathnam Sri Totadri Iyengar, adds to the school’s rich educational environment.
Two principals of the school, Smt. M. Seethalekshmi (2000) and Dr. Smt. K. Mohana (2016), received National Awards from the Government of India. Dr. Mohana also won the CBSE Teachers Award. The current principal is Mrs. Sripriya Rajaraman.
Mr. Pattabiraman proudly shared that Modern School was the only school to implement structured service rules for teachers. “We follow guidelines similar to Central and state government jobs, ensuring regular salary hikes and stability for our teachers. This results in 100% dedication and a high success rate in exams,” he said.
Teachers often serve for 30 years until retirement, contributing to the school’s excellence.
The school is managed by the Modern Indian Educational Society (MIES), a registered society under the Societies Registration Act. All members serve on an honorary basis, ensuring that all funds go towards the school’s development.
Since 2013, the school has maintained a 100% pass percentage in class X and XII exams. It ranks among the top five CBSE schools in India. Notable alumni include Grandmaster K. Sasikiran (Arjuna Awardee) and cricketer Vijay Shankar.
The school celebrates Sri Thyagaraja Aradhana Day and the Advent Day of Ramana Maharishi, providing students with platforms to showcase their talent.
Looking ahead, Modern Senior Secondary School is preparing for its diamond jubilee and centenary celebrations.
The school is led by an experienced management team: Mr. S. Pattabiraman – president (90 years old), Mr. P.B. Sripathy Rao – vice president (97 years old), Dr. N. Srinivasan – vice president (80+ years old), Mr. S. Sridharan – secretary (72 years old), Mr. P.V. Chandrasekharan – joint secretary, Mr. N. Subbaraman – assistant secretary (87 years old), and members Mr. V. Natarajan, Mr. N. Sadasivam, Mr. P.V. Inbasekaran, Mr. K.N. Venkataramanan (IAS Retd.), Mr. N. Neelakandan and Mr. Srinath Gopalan.
Mr. Pattabiraman said the school’s vision remains – Sathyam Vada Dharmam Chara.
