Through our flagship Schools Program, we aim to transform Odisha’s learning ecosystem for adolescent learners — especially girls — to provide them the confidence and agency needed to make informed decisions, completing high school and having clarity on how they can build their learning journeys and career pathways.

Strategy and Approach:

We aim to create meaningful learning experiences for students in govt. high schools. Our program in the state has the following 5 approaches:

• Focus on computational thinking and coding – Students learn block-based coding powered by Hour or Code and Scratch through tech and non-tech activities, that help learners break down a problem into simple enough steps that aid problem-solving. We have also developed a chatbot to help students to learn to code anytime and anywhere just using a smartphone. 
• Teachers as 21st century educators – Build capacities of educators to deliver 21st century skills training, transform classrooms into vibrant and inclusive 21st century learning spaces, and adopt more gender equitable practices. There’s also an avenue for teachers and schools to share good practices and get recognized for impactful work, thereby boosting wide-scale adoption of those good practices.
• Building a culture of gender equity in schools – Select school have an intensive program to bring about shifts, opportunities and support needed for adolescent girls to continue their education. Teachers and parents are encouraged to help girls make informed career decisions.
• STEM Clubs and hackathons – In select schools, STEM Clubs are lively spaces to tinker with and find solutions social problems using STEM mindsets. In bootcamps and hackathons students go through the process of problem identification, ideating a solution and building prototypes using sensors, circuits, technological equipment and / or writing a code. These hackathons also motivate students to participate in state and national forums like the Inspire Manak Awards.
• Partnerships and systems-change – Multiple strategic and knowledge partnerships are being nurtured to power collaboration in learning from best practices, sharing resources, advocating together and outreach. The program in the state is designed to become a teacher-community-state led one.

Goals 2021-2024

• 50% Teachers emerged as 21st century educators
• Learners in 4,000 secondary schools demonstrate key 21st century skills
• A pathway for sustainable state-wide transformation towards 21st century education
• A state-acknowledged teacher recognition platform