Akshara Foundation, a Bengaluru -based public charitable trust, build on a fundamental belief, that every child has an inherent right to receive a high-quality education. No child should ever be denied this right simply due to a lack of access or the resources needed to pursue their dreams. The organisation emphasises the significance of adopting blended learning models, Ashok Kamath, chairman, Akshara Foundation, told FE Education. “These models combine traditional or conventional methods of education with technology-based innovations. Our goal is to leverage the power of accessible technology to enhance the learning experience for both teachers and students,” he said.
The organisation has introduced an initiative known as ‘Ganitha Kalika Andolana (GKA),’ a campaign dedicated to assisting underprivileged government primary school children from grade one to fifth in acquiring fundamental mathematics skills. Under this initiative, the Akshara Foundation asserts its provision of scientifically crafted maths kits, which were acquired by state governments and distributed to educators in government schools across Karnataka and Odisha. Furthermore, teachers received specialised maths training, thereby positively impacting the entire state’s educational system. Akshara Foundation asserts that GKA has enriched the lives of more than seven million children to date. “Additionally, the programme was closely aligned with the National Curriculum Framework, ensuring that teachers did not need to deviate from their regular classroom instruction. Instead, we equipped teachers with the necessary tools, including maths kits and specialised training, to enhance their performance in line with the standard curriculum,” he explained.
Interestingly, the foundation asserts the National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN BHARAT) has acknowledged GKA as a model practice in mathematics education. In addition, the foundation claims to provide both face-to-face and online teacher training to government school teachers. “The methodology used in the classroom also involves peer group learning among children. These practices together have helped in creating best practices that were reported in NIPUN Bharat,” Kamath said while responding to a query regarding aspects or practices of GKA that have garnered this recognition.
In the fiscal year 2022-23, the Akshara Foundation claims to have undertaken a significant initiative known as the GP contest. This initiative is designed to empower local communities to tackle issues related to learning levels, with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of education in schools. Impressively, the foundation facilitated a total of 2,750 gram panchayat contests that took place across the states of Karnataka and Odisha. “In the past year, we assessed almost 3,25,000 children in contests. Local communities funded these initiatives, with Akshara Foundation playing a facilitating role. This collaboration helped children identify areas for improvement and improve their subject knowledge. Community involvement indicates sustainability and shows we’re on the right track. Community engagement is a game-changer in this effort,” Kamath explained.