CHENNAI: To bridge the learning gap due to Covid-19 pandemic among primary students, the state government will implement “Ennum Ezhuthum Mission” from 2022-23 academic year to ensure all students up to eight years are able to read and possess basic arithmetic skills by 2025.
Due to the 17 months gap during Covid-19 lockdown, many primary students lack basic reading and writing skills. So, the school education department plans to conduct a baseline assessment when the schools reopen after summer holidays on June 13 for all children in Classes II and III in government and government-aided schools.
Based on the outcome of the assessment, the level of children will be fixed and they will be grouped.
“Under this scheme, students will be grouped according to their learning level and learn letters, numbers through activities,” an official from the school education department said.
In a class, students will be divided into three levels Arumbu (first), Mottu (second) and Malar (third) levels. “Students will learn letters in the first stage and letters and words in the second stage, letter, words and sentence in the third stage. The activities are designed for Tamil, English and Maths subjects while environmental studies will be integrated with the languages,” the official added.
The scheme was designed to include teaching, learning, assessment and remedial teaching through activities. The State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT) also prepared handbooks with QR codes for teachers to conduct the activities. It also prepared workbooks for children to do activities.
“Students lack basic reading skills to navigate the regular textbooks. These activities will give them necessary foundational literacy and numeracy skills. It can potentially prevent future dropouts in higher classes ,” a teacher from a primary school said. After completion of the workbook, the teachers will take classes from regular textbooks.
P B Prince Gajendrababu, general secretary, State Platform for Common School System, said, providing basic literacy and numeracy skills is not a holistic approach. "The state government knowingly or unknowingly is implementing various features of National Education Policy. They should focus on providing equitable access to all children to quality education," he said.
