24-04-2025
Summer vacation throws up a learning opportunity for children
The School Education department has been promoting self-learning sessions during summer vacation in Tiruchi to bridge the learning gap among children in Classes I to V and to boost admissions to government schools.
Children tend to forego the learning they acquired during the academic year during vacation. Government schools are using the downtime to upgrade students' skills while making learning an enjoyable experience.
The Andanallur block education officials have launched the Symbiotic Learning Model, an initiative to prevent learning loss among children in Classes I to V during vacation. It encourages children to study at home with their classmates with the involvement of parents and the local community.
Under the initiative, Panchayat Union Primary School in Kambarasampettai Colony has engaged around 55 students. A group of students forms a small study circle within the locality, which functions as a learning centre coordinated by parents. It operates from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. every day.
Everyday lesson plans and homework are sent to the students via WhatsApp. The students are asked to record a video of reading and speaking and send it to the teacher. The teachers monitor the progress and clear doubts online. The students are also given a topic to write about and are encouraged to use artificial intelligence editing tools to correct the passage.
Parents were trained to guide the students with homework and to effectively utilise mobile phones to access educational content, including apps, videos, and online resources to enhance the learning experience. Study material, such as blackboards and chalk, are also provided to students.
The initiative is aimed at ensuring that children receive continuous monitoring and support in their education and prevent learning loss during holidays. 'This would improve reading, writing, and speaking skills. Introducing them to AI tools would help them learn new words,' said S. Sivakumar, retired Principal, District Institute of Education and Training, Kancheepuram, who is the coordinator of the programme.
The school has 59 students and two teachers. So far, 14 children have been enrolled for the upcoming academic year. It offers chess, carrom, silambam, bharatanatyam and other extracurricular activities for the students. 'We aim to improve the admissions in the school as parents appreciate the efforts of the school in keeping the students engaged,' said R. Sukumar Ramakrishnan, headmaster.
The programme is expected to be expanded to other schools in Andanallur Block soon.
