Isha Government School Program

India has over 363 million children below the age of 15

Is this a curse or a boon?

If most of these children remain ill-educated and unhealthy, that would be a disaster. But 363 million* well-educated, intelligent and resourceful young men and women could change the face of the country.

Most children in the country go to government schools. The government has recently taken significant steps to improve education for children – one of which is to partner with voluntary agencies to improve the quality of education they provide.

Having made pioneering advances in rural education through Isha Vidhya, Isha Foundation has taken the next step in adopting 31 schools in the districts of Coimbatore, Dharmapuri and Salem in the state of Tamil Nadu. This will improve the quality of education in these schools and benefit approximately 28,000 students.

The project is making a difference improving the quality and delivery of education in government schools is already underway in the following areas:

• Improving the literacy/numeracy skills of students who lack basics like reading and writing, through remedial classes and alternative teaching-learning methodologies
• Maintaining a student-teacher ratio of 35:1 by recruiting additional teachers
• Developing skilled teachers and inspiring them to participate willingly in the students’ well-being
• Offering better English language learning by providing schools with the Karadi Path Magic English program which provides a creative way to make learning English easy, enjoyable  and also through Activity Based learning (ABL)
• Developing the students’ body, mind and spirit through yoga, sports and creativity – introducing India’s rich heritage of music and fine arts
• Instilling a sense of social responsibility through eco-clubs and tree-planting initiatives
• Implementing healthcare programs and hygienic conditions for better physical growth and overall student wellness
• Critical assistance in maintenance of infrastructure facilities in schools

Expected Outcome at the School Level

• 90% of  students have basic literacy and numeracy skills
• 100% pass in the SSLC exams (10th Standard exams)
• Students get a minimum of 60% mark in the SSLC exams
• 50% increase in English-speaking, computer-skilled students
• 60% reduction in drop-out rates and absenteeism

Schools Adopted