AID-India was featured in a Hindu newspaper article on Monday July 17, 2006. The full text of the article is reproduced below. 

CHENNAI : A new teaching method that enables primary school students in Government and aided schools to read Tamil fluently will be launched on Monday.

The method, involving activity-based education kits and posters that will enhance the reading skills of students in classes III to V, is expected to benefit nearly seven lakh children. Around 6,500 schools in five districts in the state will receive the kits prepared by the non-governmental organisation, Aid India.

The kits have been prepared following a survey done last year in 182 schools in the two blocks of Tiruvannamalai and Kancheepuram district. The survey revealed that though enrolment was as high as 98 per cent, less than half of the students could read while at least 10 per cent were unable to identify letters of the alphabet.

"Students had memorised their text books but did not have enough reading material. Besides most of these schools have only one teacher. We brought in activity cards and soon children who could read taught others who could not," said Balaji Sampath, secretary, Aid India. The activity cards relieved the burden on the teacher and kindled students' enthusiasm in learning.

Successful experiment

"Within two months reading ability jumped by over 50 per cent. Eighty-eight per cent of those who could not read now read well. Nearly all students could identify the alphabet whereas earlier nearly 45 per cent of children in class V could not read." Aid India and its major partner, Tamil Nadu Science Forum, have reaped the fruit of their labour.

The success of their experiment led them to rope in other NGOs working in five districts. Ten of them are part of the project, `Padippum Inikkum' (Education can be sweet). Teachers want it extended to four instead of two months and have suggested colourful posters and activity cards to retain student interest.

The teachers from various schools will come to Chennai and be trained in the new method. Classrooms will have posters and kits will be provided for a group of 35 students.