Pillar 1 · Education and Learning
No child in India lacks talent. Many lack a quiet place to study, a mentor who stays, and a reason to believe grade 10 is worth finishing. Vidya Setu provides all three.
The need we answer
National assessments, including ASER and UDISE+, show a steady pattern: many children in grades 3 to 5 in rural government schools still struggle with grade 2 level reading and arithmetic, and the gap widens in adolescence.
Girls drop out at higher rates around grades 8 to 11 for reasons that have little to do with ability: distance to secondary school, household work, early marriage pressure, lack of toilets and menstrual support, and the belief that further study will not lead to income.
Employers in every small city tell us the same story: we can hire if young people arrive with basic English, basic computers, punctuality and a willingness to learn. Colleges grant degrees. They do not always grant readiness.
Our promise. We do not replace government schools. We strengthen them. Every Vidya Setu hub sits near a government school, works with its teachers and School Management Committee, and shares attendance and learning data openly.
Week by week
Daily 90 minute groups for grades 3 to 8 using Teaching at the Right Level methods learned from Pratham: assess by level, not age; teach in small groups; reassess every 6 weeks. Local youth trained as tutors. Monthly reading melas where children read aloud to their mothers with pride.
For grades 6 to 12: transport support where needed, sanitary pad access and toilet advocacy, an evening study hall with a woman mentor, life skills circles on health, rights and safety, and home visits that celebrate parents who keep daughters enrolled.
For ages 15 to 24: 12 week modules in computers, smartphones for work, spoken English for service jobs, CVs and interview practice, plus apprenticeships with local businesses, clinics and repair shops. Linked to PMKVY, Jan Shikshan Sansthan and ITI pathways where suitable.
A day at the hub
Who teaches. Two paid local facilitators, one woman and one man, plus volunteer tutors from colleges and retired teachers. All complete safeguarding, first aid and inclusive teaching training. No corporal punishment. No discrimination by caste, religion, gender or disability. Ever.
What success looks like in 12 months
साथ चलो · Walk with us
Teachers, nurses, accountants, designers, coders, drivers, cooks. Schools, NGOs and companies. Every craft and every partner has a place.
