*SEVAI Moon School: Bridging Learning Gap for Primary Students*

Moon School Enlightenment Song

Evening Class Bridging Learning Gaps

In a significant step to bridge the learning gap in dryland villages, _SEVAI - Society for Education, Village Action and Improvement_ has started _Village Evening Free Classes - Moon School_ with the support of AEM for school-going students, especially primary school children, in Thottiyapatty village.

Thottiyapatty, a dryland hamlet in Thogamalai block, has many first-generation learners. Parents, mostly small and marginal farmers and daily wage labourers dependent on the North-East Monsoon, find it difficult to support their children in studies at home. Irregular attendance during sowing and harvest seasons and lack of learning support had led to poor reading, writing and numeracy levels among primary children.

To address this, SEVAI has set up an evening tuition centre right inside the village, in SEVAI centre, run by a trained local young woman with special focus on children from Class 1 to 5.

The centre functions from _5.30 pm to 7.00 pm_ every weekday, after school hours. It follows a child-friendly approach:

*Foundational Literacy and Numeracy:* Special attention to Tamil reading, English basics and Maths for primary children through story-telling, songs and activity-based learning.

*Homework Support:* Helping children complete their school homework and clarifying doubts.

*No Exam Pressure:* No corporal punishment. Learning through games, charts and locally available materials.

*Girl Child Focus:* Special encouragement for girls to continue education and not drop out.

*Community Participation:* The tuition space is provided by the community, mothers take turns to monitor, and the Village Education Committee formed by SEVAI oversees the functioning.

Speaking about the initiative, SEVAI teacher said, "Education is the first step out of poverty in dryland villages. If a child misses learning in primary years, the loss is permanent. Evening tuition ensures that learning continues even when homes cannot support."

Parents in Thottiyapatty have welcomed the move. "Earlier our children used to wander in the streets after school. Now they go to tuition on their own. They read Tamil faster and do sums without fear," said a mother of a Class 3 student.

The free tuition is part of SEVAI's 40-year commitment to education, water and livelihood security in dryland villages.* Kris