Illam Thedi Kalvi: More than 80 pc volunteers women

After a sluggish start, Illam Thedi Kalvi (education at doorsteps), the DMK government’s pet project, is finally picking up with more volunteers signing up.

A senior official from the School Education Department said 1.65 lakh volunteers have registered to teach students under the scheme so far. Of the total applicants, 80 per cent are women. Chief Minister MK Stalin launched the scheme in October to reduce the learning gap caused by the lockdown for students of classes 1 to 8.

Initially, the scheme will be implemented in 12 districts— Cuddalore, Dindigul, Erode, Kancheepuram, Kanniyakumari, Madurai, Nagapattinam, The Nilgiris, Thanjavur, Tiruchy, and Villupuram— and later extended to others.

Retired teachers and other volunteers will take classes near students’ houses after school hours—from 5 pm to 7 pm—under the scheme. Members of district-level committees have shortlisted volunteers from their respective districts. A comprehensive training programme has been designed for the selected volunteers.

“The training will be given at schools by the teachers and headmasters to make learning easy for students and make them actively participate on a regular basis,” the official said.

He added that the volunteers teaching classes 1 to 5 should have completed Class 12 and those taking classes 6 to 8 should be graduates. Volunteers will also be given motivational coaching, counselling, besides an orientation programme. “The training programme will last for about one week,” he said.

The volunteers will be paid only Rs 1,000 each per month. More than 50 lakh students of Classes 1 to 8 from government and private schools are expected to participate in the scheme. Going by the government plan, with one volunteer each for 20 students to take evening classes in an area, more than 1.7 lakh teachers will be required.

K Elambahavath, joint managing director and project director (WB & ADB project), Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board, was transferred and posted as officer on special duty for the scheme at the end of October.

Training for volunteers will be given to make learning easy for students and make them actively participate on a regular basis

Senior official, School Education Department