Improving education in India
In response to decreasing rates of enrolment and attendance in government (state) schools in India, we have partnered with The Education Alliance (TEA) to improve the quality of education in six schools in South Delhi.
With students failing to reach their full potential, the programme takes a comprehensive approach, focusing on quality learning in English, Hindi and Maths. To bring about positive change for teachers and improve their ability to support students, they are being offered workshop and in-service training, and are participating in focused planning sessions.
As a secondary measure, Academic Coordinators have been deployed to schools to offer support to teachers through continuous observation and debrief processes, alongside coaching and mentoring.
Lastly, social workers have been recruited to work with participating schools and parents to cover the holistic well-being of students. They encourage the importance of parents taking an interest in their children’s education, and ensuring their good hygiene and nourishment.
Within three years, nearly all schools in the programme are running at full capacity, whereas non-intervention government schools continue to lose 10-13% on their enrollment each year. Furthermore, due to the programme, parents are now not only involved in volunteering to organise events and activities, but also hold the government teachers accountable for their work and the students’ progress.
As a direct result of the programme, growth in learning attainment of students in the schools has increased 2.5 – 3 times in comparison to government schools, and affordable private schools, that are not a part of the programme.
Ishu’s story
A shining example of the programme’s success is 11-year-old Ishu, who was promoted to the sixth grade.
Due to financial worries at home, Ishu was not performing well at school. But when the intervention started, she immediately displayed enthusiasm and an eagerness to learn.
Ishu has emerged as one of the high-performing students and scored 73% in the annual examinations.
Ishu had been a shy child, but after getting some guided support from her teachers she not only started achieving her academic potential but revealed increased confidence, performing in her school’s Expressions 2018 event.