Page 57 - Annual Report

Overview

The unprecedented impact of the pandemic on online, mainly through WhatsApp. Studies have also
education, with the extended closure of schools revealed a learning loss in foundational learning
throughout the country, defined the challenges and skills, along with an increasing number of
2
opportunities that FY 2021 offered. The sector saw out-of-school children. These factors are likely to
an unplanned, rather sudden shift to online have a long-lasting impact on the students’
education after schools were forced to close in development, education and well-being.
March 2020 due to the pandemic. Consequently, a The Education Portfolio of the Trusts focuses on
large number of online education resources and addressing issues of quality and equity in
offerings saw a massive increase in outreach. education. Considering the unprecedented and
Teachers and educators familiarised themselves extended closure of schools and Anganwadis, the
with technology integration, explored open-source Trusts’ teams and partners adopted a two-pronged
resources and accessed online courses, opening up approach, focusing on online engagement with
new possibilities. However, this transition to online teachers, students and parents, wherever possible,
education has been largely restricted to the more while also running community-level learning
privileged urban segments that were equipped centres and libraries for children in the villages with
with digital devices, proper internet connectivity at the help of community volunteers. These physical
home, and were enrolled in schools that enabled classes, games and library activities provided the
teachers to seamlessly adapt to the online mode of much-needed connection with the process of
teaching. Unfortunately, as highlighted by multiple teaching and learning for children in remote areas.
studies and surveys , less than 10% of rural children
1
were able to access online classes, while around
Kids attend a book reading session at school 35% have been able to access some resources

Key Achievements

 Over 280,000 teachers and educators across the
country enrolled in the online basic course on
Experiential Learning Pedagogy on the DIKSHA
Platform – a joint initiative of the Trusts with the
Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and
the Trusts’ partners; namely, Tata Institute of Social
Sciences (TISS) - Mumbai, and Mahatma Gandhi
International School - Ahmedabad.
 During the pandemic, Khan Academy India (KAI)
seeded in India by the Trusts, tied up with the state
governments in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Student in an empty school during lockdown
Assam, to support teaching in government schools  Despite the lockdowns, the Center of Excellence exceptionally well in bringing out publications, with
and Navodaya Vidyalayas, by sharing micro lessons in Teacher Education (CETE) founded by the Trusts, more than 10 research papers and one book by
over WhatsApp, weekly. This resulted in an over 50% was able to initiate all long-term courses (M.A., B.Ed. Routledge published during the year.
year-on-year increase in the total number of new M.Ed., M. Phil and Ph. D.) through online platforms.
learners that started using the KAI platform, along During the early days of the lockdown, CETE  In all regional initiatives across Jharkhand, Odisha,
with a three-fold and five-fold increase in parents’ attracted over 900 teachers for its short-term Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat,
and teachers' registrations each month, respectively courses, which were adapted to suit the demand in Maharashtra and Karnataka, the teams reached out
(as compared to previous year usage and the online-only mode. Open Learning Resources to children through community-level volunteers to
registrations), thereby demonstrating the popularity created by CETE for teachers were recognised and retain their engagement with the learning process,
and relevance of the Khan Academy resources at recommended by the National Council of Teacher given the closure of schools.
schools and homes.
Education (NCTE) - an apex regulatory authority for
teacher education in India. CETE performed
1. Source: ASER 2020, Save the Children, 2021, UNICEF, 2020
2. Source: Azim Premji Foundation, 2021

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