FOUNDATIONAL

LITERACY AND

NUMERACY

“We must be careful not to discourage our twelve-year- olds by making them waste the best years of their lives preparing for examinations.”

― Freeman Dyson

FROM NON-FORMAL SCHOOLS TO STATEWIDE IMPACT

1993

We provided training to NGOs running non-formal schools for liberated child labourers. Our hybrid training approach, including on-site support, offered valuable insights into learning dynamics in diverse socio-economic settings. The closure of non-formal schools post the RTE Act prompted innovation and deepened our understanding of educational challenges in challenging contexts.

1996

W 1996 established a lab school in Bigha - where we tested our ideas on education. The school closed down in 2020 – and in all its years of functioning it served as a model for neighbouring government schools, showcasing innovative approaches to education.

1999

We launched Naba Disha, a non-formal education model for urban underprivileged communities. It became a training beacon, highlighting effective practices, including EGRA/EGMA assessments. Our holistic approach addressed children's psychosocial and socio-emotional needs through supplementary activities.

2000

With the launch of SSA, we transitioned to collaborating with government primary schools, marking our entry into formal education. While creativity was constrained, it provided insight into large-scale system operations. We engaged in designing in-service teacher training modules.

2004

We initiated Learning Camps for government school children in West Bengal to address concerns about reading and writing proficiency. These camps incorporated embedded teacher training, emphasizing the potential of all children to learn when taught effectively.

2010

Post-RTE, our involvement with the government system intensified to address the deepening learning crisis. We designed learning packages for "Special Training" as mandated by the RTE Act, ensuring out-of-school children were placed in age- appropriate grades regardless of their learning level. These packages utilized accelerated learning techniques to build foundational skills efficiently.

2015

We started community learning centres to offer supplementary educational support
before and after school hours for students struggling with poor learning outcomes.

2020

With the implementation of the NEP in 2020, our focus shifted to working closely with state governments to achieve foundational learning competencies, particularly in numeracy, through innovative teacher training modules, guide books, attractive posters. We as a consortium partner in UP, MP, Assam and Tripura focused on Numeracy.

Our Thematic Areas