A programme to create awareness among the headmasters and headmistress of the Higher Secondary Schools in Thanjavur district was held on July 17 in Thanjavur on the “Anaivarukkum IITM (IIT Madras for All)” initiative of the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, launched in 2022.According to an official release, Collector R. Revathi, who chaired the event, explained to the headmasters and headmistresses that students could pursue their higher studies at IIT Madras without undertaking the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) but can join the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree programme through the qualification test conducted by the IIT Madras.They can pursue the Data Science and Electronic Systems, Management and Data Science and Aeronautics and Space Technology courses through online which would qualify them for taking up GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) and other national-level entrance examinations for admission to higher education in engineering.The IIT-M offers a certificate course for students of class 10 to 12, under the ‘School Connect’ programme to help them choose their course of higher education, the release added. Published - July 17, 2026 07:18 pm IST