Building a Brighter Future for Rural India
With over 65% of children in rural and tribal areas of India relying on government-run schools, the future of the country is intrinsically linked to the success of its public education system. We support local district and city administrations in delivering quality education at scale. This project is a prime example of our collaboration with a local education department to strengthen public education in India.
A case study of our Nashik District Transformation Project
Building a Brighter Future for Rural India
About
Key Approach
Strengthening Teacher Education
Scale
Sub-District
Key Expertise
Co-Create Content
Future-Ready Skills
Leadership, Management, Social and Emotional Learning
The Intervention
Following a needs-based analysis to identify the challenges and understand the context of students and teachers, we prioritized three key areas for intervention: teacher development, capacity building of field officers, and improved academic governance.
We co-developed and strengthened the existing Shikshan Parishad program, a monthly forum for teachers to share best practices and learning ideas. We provided training and coaching to Kendra Pramukhs, Block Education Officers (BEOs), and DIET Officers. This included workshops on program execution, professional development, and co-implementation strategies to ensure learnings are translated into practice. We also redesigned the Block Quality Cell (BQC) review structure for academic interventions at the block level to better meet the needs of academic and administrative officers. Additionally, we supported the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) in Nashik to establish an annual progression plan for data-driven decision making, empowering officers to lead quality improvement initiatives at the block level.
Watch us in action
Challenges
Transforming education in a complex and dynamic environment like rural India is not without its challenges. Systemic issues such as teacher absenteeism, inadequate infrastructure, and limited resources often hinder progress. The pandemic further exacerbated these challenges, disrupting traditional learning models and highlighting the digital divide in rural areas.
However, we believe that challenges are opportunities for growth and innovation. We addressed these challenges by working closely with the Nashik Zilla Parishad, building trust and rapport with government officials, and focusing on sustainable solutions. We emphasized capacity building for teachers and field officers, recognizing that their skills and motivation are crucial for driving change. We also adapted our strategies to the pandemic, leveraging technology to deliver online training and support to teachers and students.
Scale
Sub-District
Key Expertise
Co-Create Content
Future-Ready Skills
Leadership, Management, Social and Emotional Learning
A case study of our Nashik District Transformation Project
Building a Brighter Future for Rural India
Key Approach
Strengthening Teacher Education
Highlights
We ensured the sustainability of the Shikshan Parishads and BQCs by building the capacity of key stakeholders through a combination of training and coaching. Nashik District witnessed significant policy reforms during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the implementation of structured online teacher training guidelines – one of the first few districts in Maharashtra to do so. We supported the Nashik Zilla Parishad in executing a blend of online and offline learning programs, including Nashik Vidya Vahini radio program, Meraki Palak digital guidance program, and a device donation drive, to ensure continued access to education for students.
Impact and the Road Ahead
A recent third-party assessment revealed significant growth in student learning outcomes in foundational literacy and numeracy. Data shows that learning outcomes in students of grades 1, 3, and 5 have improved by 12%, 15%, and 8% respectively over the past two academic years. Nashik’s performance on the Performance Grading Index (PGI) report has demonstrably improved. The PGI is a government-measured benchmark that assesses districts across 83 indicators. Nashik has been ranked in the top performing quartile, with a significant improvement in scores across multiple parameters.
The success of the Nashik District Transformation Project has inspired us to expand our footprint into five more districts in Maharashtra. Our unwavering commitment is to contribute to building a public education system in India that is worthy of its children, one district at a time.
Other Case Studies
About
With over 65% of children in rural and tribal areas of India relying on government-run schools, the future of the country is intrinsically linked to the success of its public education system. We support local district and city administrations in delivering quality education at scale. This project is a prime example of our collaboration with a local education department to strengthen public education in India.