Tamil Nadu School Education Department is set to extend the "Vaasipu Iyakkam" program for students of Classes 4 to 9 across government schools in the state from September. The scheme is aimed at promoting reading among students. The project was inaugurated on July 21. Currently, the project is ongoing in 11 unions in 11 districts of the state. This is the first-of-its-kind project.
Under the program, the students will be divided into four categories including Nuzhai (Enter), Nada (Walk), Oodu (Run) and Para (Fly), as per the report on IANS.
The categories also mark the complexities of the stories in the books. The books in the fundamental 'Nuzhai' category are mostly picture-based, whereas the books in the 'Para' category are heavily text-based.
As many as 51 books will be made available in each class library, which comprises 10 books under 'Nuzhai', 11 books under 'Nada', 16 books under 'Oadu' and 14 books under 'Para', said the report.
Students are expected to analyse the storylines on their own after reading the books.
In addition, the children are expected to independently develop stories based on what they read. The student-written stories would be turned into books, inspiring other students to write.
Each school will have an additional teacher and a student coordinator to oversee the project once it is implemented in all government schools starting in September as planned.
Earlier, Students in Responsible Police Initiatives (SIRPI) was launched in state-run schools by Tamil Nadu CM Stalin for Class 7 students. The scheme aims at imparting discipline and social awareness among students.
The students would be given food and a booklet during the classes under SIRPI scheme.
During the launch, Stalin said that awareness should be created among students against drug, alcoholism, law and to help them establish contact with government and NGOs.