VTA Tamil School
The VTA Tamil School is the oldest, largest, and most reputed Tamil language school in Melbourne, Victoria. Established in 1979 at the Prahran Migrant Resource Centre with just eight students and one teacher, it has grown significantly over the decades. Today, the school operates across eight campuses in Melbourne, catering to over 1,100 students with the support of 95 dedicated teachers.
About Our Classes
Our classes range from Kindergarten to VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education) at five of our eight campuses. The remaining three campuses offer classes from Kindergarten to Year 8.
Originally known as the ETA Tamil School, the institution later became the Victorian Tamil Association Tamil School. Today, it is proudly called the VTA Tamil School. Our students come from diverse backgrounds, including India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, and other countries.
Streams of Learning
The school offers two streams for students:
Academic Stream: Students who pursue Tamil as a subject for the VCE.
Conversational Stream: Students who focus on learning Tamil primarily to communicate with family members, especially parents and grandparents in their home countries.
Excellence in Education
VTA Tamil School is renowned for its high standard of education at all levels, from Kindergarten to VCE. Our VCE results over the past eight years are a testament to this commitment. Since 2015, our VCE students have consistently received the prestigious Victorian Premier’s Award for excellence in Tamil language studies. This success is a result of the dedication of our teachers and volunteers, who work tirelessly alongside students and their parents to achieve outstanding results.
Child Safety Commitment
The VTA Tamil School is committed to operating in a child-safe environment. We have a zero-tolerance policy for any form of abuse, violence, or bullying, ensuring the safety and well-being of all students.
Governance and Policies
The school is managed by the VTA School Board, comprising:
The Chairman
The Principal
Two representatives from the Victorian Tamil Association
One member from each campus (typically the campus coordinator)
The board operates under a charter jointly developed by the Eelam Tamil Association (ETA) Victoria, the ETA Tamil School Board, and the Ethnic Schools Association of Victoria. The charter outlines the board’s responsibilities and guides efforts to enhance Tamil language education within the frameworks provided by the Ethnic Schools Association of Victoria.
Innovative Teaching Methodology
At VTA Tamil School, we adopt the Padimurai Thamil (Step-by-Step) method to teach Tamil as a second language. All our teachers are fully trained and participate in annual retraining programs to ensure they deliver the best educational experience to students.