An estimated 15 Cr children are still out of the formal education system (link), most of them from underprivileged, marginalized communities. The challenges of children dropping out of school post enrollment and thus not reaching expected learning levels glare at us. The Covid-19 pandemic worsened the situation, forcing children out of school resulting in learning losses.

There have been efforts from the Government bringing educational policies to ease the situation. Many non-profit organizations, individuals concerned about the cause, and volunteer groups also work with the communities at grass-roots level, though the efforts are scattered and there are many challenges.

DSS has been working with the children from urban-poor and migrant communities since 1989. Applying the learnings from this experience, DSS has developed proven teaching and monitoring and evaluation methods and designed training modules to help children gain functional literacy. These structured methods help children learn easily and the team can monitor progress of their learning. We have created teaching-learning material, graded books, supplementary reading material, teachers’ manuals, and reporting & monitoring mechanisms. These go a long way in maintaining the quality of teaching and learning we impart.

Project Networking and Nurturing was conceptualized to bring the two together. With the tested DSS methodologies, the nonprofits and volunteer groups can reach out to more children in a structured manner to achieve foundational literacy.