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Author: Ayushi Agarwal

Everything You Need to Know About ASER: India’s Landmark Annual Education Report

Posted on by Ayushi Agarwal
Cover image for blog explaining what ASER is and why it matters for understanding foundational learning levels in India

In a country as vast and diverse as India, how do we truly know whether children are learning? That’s the question ASER – which means ‘impact’ in Hindustani – seeks to answer.

What Does ASER Stand For?

ASER stands for Annual Status of Education Report

How It All Began: The Story Behind ASER

The roots of ASER go back to 1996, when the non-profit Pratham began working to help children in India’s villages and urban slums acquire basic reading and arithmetic skills. Throughout its early years, Pratham focused on one clear goal: ensuring that every child could learn, not just attend school. As their reach expanded, Pratham needed a simple and consistent way to assess children’s progress. 

This led to the creation of a practical tool just one sheet of paper with four levels of reading:

  • Letters
  • Simple and commonly used words
  • A short paragraph with basic sentences
  • A longer story with more advanced vocabulary

This tool was used widely across states, enabling field teams to speak a common language about children’s learning. It helped measure progress in a way that was easy to use, understand, and compare across locations.

By 2004, India had nearly achieved universal enrollment at the primary school level. But a big question remained: Were children actually learning? No large-scale data existed to answer this. Pratham’s grassroots work showed that many children in school were still struggling with basic reading and math.

This concern sparked the idea of Annual Status of Education Report (ASER): India’s Largest Citizen-led Survey

ASER dives deep into what children in rural areas are actually learning, especially in basic reading and arithmetic. Conducted every year, the ASER Centre brings to us a clear picture of what’s really happening in classrooms and homes across rural India. Using simple yet powerful methods, they gather large-scale evidence on learning outcomes, especially in reading and arithmetic. But ASER goes beyond just numbers. It helps us understand the actual impact of government programs and education policies on the ground.

Born in 2008 as an independent unit within the Pratham network, ASER Centre carries forward Pratham’s mission of helping every child learn well. By combining grassroots experience with data-driven assessments, ASER not only tells us where we stand, but also guides us on what needs to be done.

The Vision Behind ASER: Evidence for Action

At the heart of ASER lies a powerful belief: when people understand the problems around them, they can bring about extraordinary change.

The ASER Centre envisions a world where evidence is not just collected by experts, but by everyday people such as parents, teachers, and volunteers who care deeply about improving their communities. They believe that measurement doesn’t need to be complicated. It should be rigorous, yes – but also simple enough for anyone to do, understand, and act on.

When ordinary citizens are equipped with the tools to measure learning, they begin to ask the right questions. They talk to one another, recognize gaps, and take steps. Their steps could be small or big but the motive will be to make things better. This is what “evidence for action” truly means.

The Mission: Turning Measurement into Meaningful Action

ASER Centre’s mission goes beyond just collecting data, it’s about empowering people and institutions to understand that data and use it to drive change. By building the capacity of individuals, communities, and organizations, ASER enables large-scale measurement that is both accurate and actionable. The goal is to create a culture where decisions in education are based on what’s really happening, not just on assumptions or theories.

Now, education industry is at the stage whether it’s a teacher in a village school, people in the social sector, or a policymaker at the national level, ASER helps bridge the gap between what we think is true and what the evidence shows, so that action is rooted in reality and impact becomes measurable. ASER is creating a  movement of informed citizens who can drive real change in education and beyond.

The first nationwide ASER survey was conducted in 2005

This marked a major shift in how India approached measuring learning outcomes. But as ASER expanded year after year, it uncovered deeper gaps not just in children’s learning, but in how the country understood and measured educational progress.

Through its early years in the field, ASER brought to light a striking reality: India lacked a culture of measurement and analysis, especially when it came to learning outcomes. There was little independent and timely data available at the district level, and most existing assessments focused more on processes than actual learning.

Further, within these years it also became clear that a large number of stakeholders such as teachers, NGO workers, citizen groups, even government functionaries, lacked access to the basic technical knowledge needed to collect and interpret data. There was a widespread need to build skills in areas such as sampling, survey methodology, and data analysis.

In response to these insights, ASER Centre was established in January 2008 as an independent research and capacity-building unit within the Pratham network. Its goal was not only to continue the ASER surveys, but also to strengthen the ecosystem by building capacity, promoting evidence-based advocacy, and making rigorous measurement accessible to all.

From Annual to Alternate Years: Adapting to a Changing Educational Landscape of India

After running the ‘basic’ ASER survey annually for a decade, 2015 marked a pause. The national education landscape was evolving. Government-led assessments such as the National Achievement Survey (NAS) and State-Level Assessment Surveys (SLAS) were gaining prominence. However, these were school-based assessments focused on grade-level content unlike ASER, which looked at foundational learning across all children aged 5–16, whether in school or not.

Recognizing the unique value of ASER’s community-based, household survey model, a new approach was adopted.

The ‘basic’ ASER survey was then conducted once every two years, while the alternate years would feature thematic surveys focusing on different age groups and aspects of education.

Some key milestones in this new cycle included:

  • 2016 & 2018 – Basic ASER surveys continued, measuring foundational reading and arithmetic skills.
  • 2017 – ASER Beyond Basics assessed 14–18-year-olds across 28 districts, exploring life skills, digital access, and career aspirations.
  • 2019 – ASER Early Years focused on children aged 4–8, studying school readiness and early childhood learning across 26 districts.

Responding to the Pandemic: ASER Goes Remote

In 2020 and 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted field operations. ASER adapted quickly, shifting to phone-based surveys. While direct learning assessments weren’t possible, these surveys explored children’s access to digital learning, home learning support, and the overall impact of school closures. This flexible approach helped keep a pulse on education during one of its most challenging periods. 

In 2022, the ‘basic’ ASER survey resumed its on-the-ground implementation, reaching nearly all rural districts across the country 

Since then, two reports have been released: ASER 2022 and ASER 2024.

Explore all ASER reports organized by various categories to help you find exactly what you need here

One of the most impactful aspects of ASER Centre’s work – beyond data collection and reporting, is its focus on capacity building

Through a wide range of workshops and training programs, ASER Centre equips individuals and organizations with the skills needed to collect, interpret, and apply evidence for meaningful action. These workshops are designed not just for the Pratham network but also for partner institutions that seek to deepen their understanding of ground realities and evidence-based decision-making.

What sets these capacity-building modules apart is their dynamic design

  • Each training integrates classroom learning with hands-on field activities, ensuring that participants experience a real-world connection between policy frameworks and the everyday challenges of education on the ground. By moving constantly between theory and practice, the workshops foster deeper understanding and long-term retention.
  • Sessions are highly interactive, employing a mix of individual tasks, small group collaborations, and large group discussions. This variety not only keeps learners engaged but also caters to different learning styles, ultimately preparing them to lead, adapt, and innovate in their own education ecosystems.

Here’s what sets ASER apart:

  • Available in Multiple Languages: All reports are published in both Hindi and English. This makes ASER report accessible to a wide range of readers across the country.
  • State-wise Reports: Along with the national report, state-level data is also published separately. This allows for deep dives into local realities and comparisons across states.
  • Multiple Formats: ASER reports are available in PPT, PDF and video format, with visual summaries, charts, and concise briefs. This makes the findings easy to understand and grasp.
  • Supportive Team: What truly stands out is the ASER Centre team’s openness to engagement. They are extremely supportive if you wish to understand the data in more detail, use it in your work, or share it accurately. They believe that when evidence is understood well, it leads to better decisions and stronger impact.

In a space often filled with complex jargon, ASER continues to be a source of clear, grounded, and actionable insight into the real status of education in India.

Unmatched Reach and Scale of ASER Across Rural India

The ASER survey stands out not just for its methodology, but also for its extraordinary scale. Conducted annually, the basic ASER survey reaches nearly every rural district across India, covering over 15,000 villages and assessing more than 650,000 children. To put this in perspective, ASER’s sample size is more than double that of the survey rounds conducted by the government’s National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO), making it one of the largest citizen-led household surveys of children’s learning outcomes in the world.

Illustration showing the reach and impact of the ASER report across rural India

This expansive reach ensures that ASER captures a truly representative snapshot of rural education across diverse geographies, communities, and contexts. Beyond the main survey, ASER Centre also undertakes a variety of research, assessment, and capacity-building projects, each with its own scope and scale. This allows the organisation to remain responsive to local needs while informing national and state-level education policy.

Key Highlights You Should Look At From The Recent Report: ASER 2024

The ASER 2024 report offers a comprehensive view of learning levels across rural India, focusing on foundational skills and digital access. Based on a survey of 6.5 lakh children, here are the most noteworthy takeaways:

Visual summary of key findings from the ASER 2024 report, highlighting major trends in student learning and education indicators

Improvement in Learning Levels

  • Notable gains in reading and arithmetic skills among students in Classes 3, 5, and 8
  • This marks the largest improvement in reading abilities since 2022, attributed to focused foundational learning efforts

Persistent Foundational Gaps

  • Despite progress, a majority of Class 3 students still cannot read a Class 2-level text, signaling the need for sustained foundational interventions.

Government-Led Collaborative Success

  • The report recognizes the collective push by governments and partners, especially under initiatives such as NIPUN Bharat, as key to the learning recovery post-pandemic.

Early Education Trends

  • Increased enrollment in pre-primary classes and Anganwadis, reflecting a growing awareness of early childhood education’s importance.

Rising Digital Literacy

  • Smartphone penetration continues to grow, especially among teens aged 14–16, indicating expanded digital access and potential for tech-enabled learning.
  • However, girls still lag behind boys in access to digital devices and usage, highlighting a gendered digital divide.

Learning Inequities Persist

  • Students from disadvantaged communities and government schools continue to perform below their peers in private institutions, though the gap is narrowing in some states due to targeted interventions.

Let’s Move from Insight to Action

It has been over six months since the release of the ASER 2024 findings, and encouragingly, several initiatives have already begun to address foundational learning gaps and improve education access for last-mile learners. However, to make real academic progress in the current academic year, we must accelerate our collective efforts and focus on solutions that truly meet learners where they are.

Approaches such as Personalized Adaptive Learning (PAL) can help bridge individual learning gaps, smart classrooms can enhance teaching instruction, and digital libraries can open up a world of educational resources for every child. These interventions when thoughtfully implemented have the potential to drive both equity and excellence in learning outcomes.

If you’re working to resolve learning gaps and enhance educational delivery, we invite you to connect with us. You may contact us at +91 7678265039  or write to us at share@idreameducation.org. You can also share your details here. We’d be happy to understand your context, recommend the right solutions, and even co-create a customized program to assess, implement, and continuously improve impact on the ground.

The Rise of Impact Assessment Vendors in Education: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities

Posted on by Ayushi Agarwal

Behind the growing buzz around impact in education lies a rising wave of Impact Assessment Vendors in Education—let’s explore what’s driving their growth, the challenges they face, and what you should know before choosing one.

Cover image of a blog titled 'Guiding You to Impact Assessment Vendors in Education and Why They Matter' featuring visuals of students taking assessment on tablets

Over the past decade, India’s school education system has seen a wave of transformative changes. From curriculum changes under the National Education Policy  (NEP) 2020, to digitisation of learning, infrastructure upgrades, and increased funding through government, NGO, and CSR channels. In fact, the collective education ecosystem is putting its best foot forward.

Schools are increasingly seeking context-specific content, aiming to close learning gaps and reach grade-level competencies. Technology-led tools, smart classrooms, teacher training, and innovative pedagogies are being implemented across the country. Yet, despite all these efforts, one uncomfortable truth persists: learning outcomes remain limited.

While we speak often of implementation, scale, and innovation, there’s comparatively little focus on tracking progress, measuring effectiveness, or understanding what’s actually working in classrooms. This lack of continuous, data-driven feedback has left a crucial gap in the system.

And this is where we see the rise of impact assessment vendors in education. Organisations dedicated to evaluating what really changes in learning when programs are implemented. Much like salt in a dish, their role might not always be visible, but it’s absolutely essential. Without credible, contextual, and timely assessment, even the most well-intentioned education initiatives risk losing their purpose and direction.

NEP 2020 Has Also Accelerated the Need for Impact Assessment

In India, the rise of impact assessment in education isn’t just a global trend taking root — it’s a direct response to the ambitious vision outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. As NEP pushes for a fundamental shift from input-based to outcome-based education, the need for credible, data-driven insights into “what’s working” on the ground has become urgent.

NEP 2020 focuses on goals such as:

  • Foundational literacy and numeracy by Grade 3 (NIPUN Bharat)
  • Competency-based learning and formative assessment
  • Equity and inclusion across diverse learner groups
  • Use of technology for better learning outcomes
  • Vocational integration and 21st-century skill-building

But these goals cannot be tracked through traditional means alone. This is where impact assessment vendors in education are stepping in. They are helping governments, NGOs, CSR arms, and other organizations in the education ecosystem to move beyond anecdotal evidence to measuring real, learning-linked outcomes.

The trends Highlights a Clear Shift from Monitoring to Measurement

Traditionally, educational programs in India were often judged by outputs: how many tablets were distributed, how many sessions conducted, or how many teachers trained. Today, the focus is shifting to actual impact on learners — are students reading with comprehension? Are they applying mathematical concepts? Are teachers changing their classroom practices?

This evolution is giving rise to:

  • Baseline and endline assessments across government and NGO/CSR initiatives
  • Third-party evaluations for CSR-funded programs to ensure accountability
  • State-level partnerships where vendors design contextualised learning measurement tools 
  • Integration of real-time dashboards and learning analytics for adaptive feedback loops

With government programs such as Samagra Shiksha, PM SHRI, and district-level FLN missions, there is a growing demand for independent assessment partners who can deliver actionable insights that go beyond basic reporting. At the same time, CSR initiatives increasingly seek to co-create programs that not only focus on implementation but also integrate impact assessment from the ground up.

Key Opportunities to Explore with Impact Assessment Vendors in Education

Impact Assessment Vendors in Education are no longer just evaluators. They are becoming strategic partners in the end-to-end implementation of digital learning programs, right from diagnosing learning gaps to measuring real learning outcomes. Here’s how you can unlock powerful opportunities by integrating them into the program lifecycle:

Co-Create a Digital Education Program Backed by Data

  • The journey begins with a baseline assessment designed to capture students’ current learning levels. The assessment will not be of just their present grade, but also two levels below. This diagnostic approach helps establish a clear picture of foundational understanding, which is often the key to effective intervention.
  • Based on this baseline, the right digital learning solution is selected. This could be Personalized Adaptive Learning (PAL) platform to bridge deep-rooted gaps or Smart Classroom tools to boost engagement and classroom instruction. Once implemented, monthly progress is monitored through a mix of teacher interactions, usage data, and real-time reporting dashboards.
  • At the end of the academic cycle, a detailed Endline Assessment measures learning outcomes against the baseline. This comparison brings out the true impact of the intervention, offering data-driven insights to both funders and implementers and building a strong case for investing in need-based, measurable digital education programs.

Start with Baseline, End with Measurable Results

  • Conducting a baseline and Endline assessment is another crucial first step for impact assessment. In this you first determine the exact needs of a learner group or school system. The digital solution is then chosen based on this insight — followed by continuous monitoring, including usage analytics, adoption tracking, and mid-cycle feedback loops. Finally, an endline assessment completes the loop with clear, comparable data to showcase what changed and improved.

Monthly Learning Assessments for Real-Time Insights

  • Impact Assessment Vendors in Education can also enable monthly performance tracking to monitor incremental learning gains. Tools such as iPrep’s Clicker functionality, for example, offer interactive, in-class assessments using roll number–linked clicker devices. These are integrated with IFP panels (Interactive Flat Panels) where students respond to questions displayed onscreen. Responses are captured instantly via Bluetooth, and automated scorecards are generated for both students and teachers. This can enable micro-level progress tracking throughout the year.

Progress Mapping Through Comparative Assessments

  • If baseline data exists, impact assessment vendors in education can conduct endline assessments to create a clear progress map over the academic year. These comparisons don’t just validate the effectiveness of a program, they also help implementers refine strategies midstream. Whether the project operates on a modest CSR budget or through large-scale government funding, the choice of solution can be guided by real learning needs, and measured with precision.
In essence, impact assessment Vendors in education are offering opportunities to help shift digital education efforts from hopeful implementation to strategic, results-driven transformation. By building in assessment at every stage, educational programs gain not just credibility, but also the flexibility to adapt and succeed at scale.

Now lets looks at some challenges that comes with Impact Assessment Vendors in Education

While the role of impact assessment vendors in education is undeniably valuable, engaging them comes with its own set of challenges.  One of the significant points to note is some impact assessment vendors may stretch the budget and operational bandwidth of even well-intentioned programs. Let us guide to some more limitation you should be aware of when planning to integrate third-party impact assessments into their education initiatives:

Time-Consuming and Detail-Heavy

Impact assessments are not quick exercises. The process is multi-staged, and when done rigorously, it demands weeks (if not months) of planning, fieldwork, analysis, and reporting. In many cases, assessments tend to gather more data than necessary, which can overwhelm implementers and delay action on insights.

High Resource and Manpower Demands

From designing the framework to field execution, some impact assessment vendors may suggest the process that requires specialised personnel, researchers, data collectors, analysts, and coordinators. This often means diverting internal teams or hiring external experts, both of which can strain available capacity and increase dependency.

Cost Escalation

A full-scale impact assessment vendor may significantly increase the overall cost of the project. For CSR or NGO-led programs operating within strict budgets, allocating funds for assessment alongside implementation can sometimes feel like a trade-off.

Finding the Right Balance Between Rigor and Practicality

There’s always a tension between wanting a rigorous, scientific assessment and maintaining practicality and agility on the ground. Especially in the school ecosystem where time with students is limited and teachers are already stretched. Here,  embedding assessments without disrupting regular learning is a constant balancing act.

In short, while impact assessment vendors in education are becoming critical partners in education enhancement, their choice and involvement must be strategically planned. When done right, the benefits are substantial but so are the investments required.

Not all impact assessment vendors are the same. Therefore, choosing the right one can make or break the success of your education initiative. The ideal partner should not only help you measure outcomes but also simplify the assessment process, enable real-time feedback, and align with your on-ground realities, including budget, geography, and infrastructure constraints.

Here are key factors to consider while selecting the right impact assessment vendor in education:

Illustration highlighting key factors to consider when selecting the right impact assessment vendor in education

Look for End-to-End Capability

Choose an impact assessment vendor in education who can offer an end-to-end solution. This comprises baseline diagnostics to solution deployment, regular monitoring, and final impact measurement. This ensures your implementation and assessment are aligned from day one, reducing fragmentation and easing coordination across partners.

Ensure Flexibility in Assessment Modes

Every geography and context is different. Some schools may be ready for tablet-based assessments, while others might benefit more from clicker-based evaluations using Interactive Flat Panels (IFPs). The right impact assessment vendor will offer multiple modes and help you choose based on what works best in terms of cost, infrastructure, and ease of use.

Insist on Customisation of Assessment Tools

One-size-fits-all assessments don’t work in diverse education ecosystems such as India’s. Opt for an impact assessment in education that offers custom impact assessment design. This includes grade-level appropriateness, language options, competency mapping, and integration with the impact of your implemented solution. This ensures the results are meaningful and actionable.

Check for Integration with Solution Usage Monitoring

Impact isn’t just about learning outcomes at the end. It’s about continuous usage and adoption of the implemented solution. Choose an impact assessment vendor that can track engagement metrics (like usage time, adoption, module completion, and more.) to correlate adoption with outcomes and guide ongoing improvements.

Prefer Vendors Who Have Train Local or Internal Teams

Sustainability matters. Vendors who have trained on-ground teams not only reduce costs over time but also build local ownership of the process. This also helps ensure better data quality and consistency in execution.

Look for Experience in Similar Ecosystems

Choose an impact assessment vendor in education who has experience working with schools or geographies similar to yours. Whether that means government schools in rural areas, low-infrastructure contexts, or multilingual regions. They will be better equipped to anticipate challenges and design context-relevant solutions.

Evaluate the Vendor’s Reporting and Visualization Tools

Impact is only as good as how well it’s communicated. A good vendor will offer clear, easy-to-understand dashboards and reports that help you share results with stakeholders. Hence, look for visualizations that go beyond data dumps and tell a compelling story of change.

Closing Thoughts

The right impact assessment vendor in education should act as a true collaborator, not just a service provider. By aligning with your goals, your ground realities, and your preferred digital solution, they can help you generate insights that lead to measurable, scalable improvement in student learning outcomes.

Looking for the Right Impact Assessment Partner for Your Education Project?

We’d be happy to support you. You may reach out to us +91 7678265039. You can write to us at share@idreameducation.org or share your details here, and our team will get in touch. We’d be glad to walk you through our impact assessment process, share relevant case studies, and discuss how we can help you design a solution that delivers measurable outcomes.

A Closer Look at India’s National Education Policy (NEP 2020)

Posted on by Ayushi Agarwal
Cover image of a blog that guides readers to key details and insights about the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020

India’s education system has evolved over the years with the help of 3 major National Education Policies (NEP). Each policy is designed to address the changing needs of students, teachers, and the school education system.

  • NEP 1968 was the 1st education policy after independence. It focused on giving every child equal learning opportunities, promoting national unity, and making education compulsory up to the age of 14.
  • NEP 1986, later updated in 1992, aimed at expanding access to education, bridging gaps for disadvantaged groups, and improving the overall quality of learning.
  • NEP 2020, the latest and most ambitious policy, takes a bold leap forward. It aims to reshape India’s education system to meet global standards while staying deeply rooted in Indian culture and values. It talks about flexibility, holistic learning, and preparing students for the 21st century future.

Let’s Understand: What is National Education Policy (NEP 2020)?

NEP 2020 is India’s first education policy of the 21st century. This was introduced with a vision to shape a modern, inclusive, and forward-looking education system. This aims to prepare every learner for the challenges and opportunities of today and tomorrow.

At its core, NEP 2020 is more than just a policy; it’s a complete overhaul of how education is structured, delivered, and governed in India. It aims to align the Indian education system with global standards, especially with the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4), which focuses on inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

But what truly sets NEP 2020 apart is its focus on the holistic development of every student. The policy recognises that true education goes beyond textbooks. It emphasizes:

  • Foundational skills like reading, writing, and basic numeracy
  • Higher-order thinking skills such as critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving
  • Social and emotional learning—helping students build empathy, ethics, and emotional intelligence

NEP 2020 draws inspiration from India’s rich heritage of knowledge while embracing the future. It encourages flexibility, creativity, and lifelong learning, aiming to unlock the unique potential within every learner.

Why Was NEP 2020 Introduced?

  • The world of work is rapidly changing with automation, AI, and evolving job markets
  • India’s education system was seen as rigid, exam-centric, and lacking creativity and practical relevance
  • There was a need to integrate foundational learning, digital literacy, skill development, and flexibility
  • There was a need to integrate local language content in school education 
  • NEP 2020 was designed to reduce rote learning, promote multidisciplinary education, and empower learners to become critical thinkers and global citizens

Since its launch, NEP is actively revisited and reviewed each year 

With every anniversary in July, new updates are introduced based on the evolving educational landscape, emerging skills, national development goals, and alignment with other government initiatives. As a result, each year brings a refined version—commonly referred to as NEP 2021, NEP 2022, NEP 2023, NEP 2024 and so on. Now, in its fifth year, the policy and its progress are being observed under the term NEP 2025. These evolving versions ensure that the policy remains dynamic, relevant, and responsive to the needs of learners, educators, and the nation.

What Changed After 2020? 

Bringing Back Evaluations in Classes 5 and 8

  • One of the significant shifts introduced under NEP 2020 is the abolition of the ‘No Detention Policy’. The policy was for Classes 5 and 8. This marks a return to structured evaluations at two crucial stages in a student’s academic journey. 1st stage is upper primary and 2nd is middle school.
  • The revised approach doesn’t just focus on passing or failing but places greater emphasis on accountability, academic performance, and regular assessment analysis. The aim is to ensure students have truly grasped foundational concepts before moving to the next level.
  • By reintroducing these checkpoints, NEP 2020 seeks to strengthen learning outcomes, identify learning gaps early, and provide necessary support to students who need it. It also encourages schools and teachers to take a more proactive role in monitoring progress and ensuring every learner is on track.

This change reflects NEP’s broader vision: making assessment meaningful—not punitive—so that every child is supported to succeed.

Replacement of the traditional 10+2 schooling system with a new 5+3+3+4 structure

Illustration showing the traditional 10+2 school system with the new 5+3+3+4 structure introduced by the National Education Policy (NEP), showing stages of education from foundational to secondary level
Foundational Stage (5 years) – Ages 3 to 8
  • This stage integrates 3 years of preschool or anganwadi (early childhood care and education) with Grades 1 and 2. It caters to the age group of 3 to 8 years, a critical period for brain development.
  • The learning approach is play-based, activity-based, and inquiry-driven, designed to foster curiosity, imagination, and social skills.
  • Emphasis is on developing motor skills, sensory development, basic numeracy and literacy.
Preparatory Stage (3 years) – Ages 8 to 11
  • Covering Grades 3 to 5, this stage builds upon the foundation laid earlier and introduces more structured learning, while still retaining the essence of exploration and play.
  • Children begin formal education in subjects such as language, mathematics, science, art, and physical education.
  • The focus is on strengthening reading, writing, speaking, and foundational numeracy, while also encouraging creativity, expression, and curiosity.
  • The pedagogical approach remains activity-based and interactive, ensuring that learning remains engaging and meaningful.
Middle Stage (3 years) – Ages 11 to 14
  • This includes Grades 6 to 8, marking the transition from playful learning to conceptual understanding
  • Learners are introduced to more abstract and complex concepts across disciplines such as mathematics, sciences, social sciences, arts, and humanities.
  • The focus shifts towards critical thinking, problem-solving, and experiential learning.
  • Students may also be introduced to hands-on learning through vocational education, coding, or project-based learning, fostering both academic and practical skills.
Secondary Stage (4 years) – Ages 14 to 18
  • Spanning Grades 9 to 12, this final phase of school education is further divided into two parts:
  • Grades 9 and 10 (first phase)
  • Grades 11 and 12 (second phase)
  • This stage emphasizes flexibility, choice, and depth in learning.
  • Students can select from a wide range of subject combinations—cutting across arts, science, and vocational education—based on their interests and aspirations.
  • The aim is to nurture multidisciplinary understanding, analytical abilities, and deeper conceptual learning.
  • This phase prepares students for higher education and careers through a balanced and broad-based curriculum that also promotes life skills, values, and personal development.

This shift moves away from a rigid, one-size-fits-all model and instead supports age-appropriate learning, skill-building, and conceptual understanding from early childhood through adolescence.

The reason behind these revision is

To help every child achieve grade-level competency and ensure their overall development—mentally, emotionally, and academically. It aligns with the broader NEP goal of making learning more child-centric, inclusive, and effective for all.

What is the aim of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 ?

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aims to achieve a Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) of 100% in preschool to secondary education by 2030, and to increase the GER in higher education, including vocational education, from 26.3% in 2018 to 50% by 2035.

What are the Key Principles of NEP 2020?

NEP 2020 emphasizes building a good education ecosystem where every student feels welcomed, cared for, and safe, enabling a stimulating learning environment where students get a wide range of learning experiences. As per the NEP Policy, this needs to be the primary goal of every educational institution across all stages of education. 

With the focus on above aspects, NEP 2020 has mentioned fundamental principles (Pg. No. 5) that states:

  • Recognize, identify, and foster the unique capabilities of each student for holistic development
  • Achieve Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) by all students by Grade 3
  • Enable flexibility in learning to empower students to choose courses and learn at their own pace
  • NEP 2020 emphasizes eliminating distinctions between curricular and extracurricular activities, arts and sciences, vocational and academic streams, and other divisions to eliminate hierarchies that can be a barrier to learning.
  • Holistic Education across all high school streams to ensure unity and integrity of all knowledge
  • Eliminate rote learning or learning just for exam to encourage conceptual understanding 
  • Encourage education that promotes critical thinking and creativity to ensure students have logical thinking and innovation abilities
  • Encourage education on humanity, ethics, and constitutional values like respect, empathy for others, cleanliness, democratic spirit, courtesy, spirit of service, and more to life skills among students while growing up and learning
  • Encourage Hindi, English and local language in teaching and learning to ensure students are taught in their preferred language or language they are familiar

Some of the most important and deeper features of the NEP are:

  • The purpose of assessment in our schooling system will shift from a focus on summative exams and rote memorization to a more regular, formative approach. A National Assessment Centre, PARAKH, is established under MHRD as a standard-setting body to define norms and guidelines for student assessment across all school boards, guide national and state surveys, monitor learning outcomes, and support the shift towards 21st-century skill-based evaluation aligned with NEP objectives. [Pg No.  18, 19]
  • Every student possesses unique innate talents that must be identified, nurtured, and developed. Students who demonstrate exceptional interests or abilities in specific areas should be encouraged to explore and excel beyond the standard curriculum. Integration of technology in classrooms to remove language barriers, increase accessibility for Divyang students, and improve access to education. [Pg No. 19,20]
  • Value diversity and acknowledge the significance of the local context in every aspect of curriculum, pedagogy, and policy
  • Promote equity and inclusion to help every student thrive
  • Synergy in curriculum across all levels of education from foundational years to school to higher education
  • Continuous recruitment and professional development to enable positive working environment
  • “Light but Tight” regulatory framework to ensure transparency, integrity, & resource
  • efficiency
  • Continuous research to ensure continuous improvement in education system
  • Regular review by education experts to ensure progressive research and assessment
  • Keep students intact with roots and pride in India by teaching them about rich, diverse, ancient, and modern culture, knowledge systems and traditions of the country
  • Enabling education in remotest corner of India to ensure education reaches the last mile learner
  • Substantial investment in the public education system through philanthropic private and community participation
These principles establish a strong foundation for the EdTech sector, as well as for public and private philanthropists, hardware suppliers, system integrators, and other stakeholders within the educational ecosystem to contribute and drive the transformation of India. 

3 Pillars of NEP Revamping School Education: Structure, Governance, and Quality

The National Education Policy with this vision proposes a holistic revamp of the entire education structure. This includes:

Integration of Technology

  • NEP emphasizes the integration of digital tools and platforms through various initiatives. This focuses on energized textbooks, high-quality e-content for teachers and students, and question banks aligned with learning outcomes. These measures are designed to enhance both teaching and learning experiences, making education more engaging, inclusive, and outcome-oriented.

Governance and Resource Allocation

  • While recognizing the significant progress made in ensuring access to education—particularly through the establishment of primary schools in every habitation. The policy also addresses the challenge of small, under-resourced schools with low student enrollment. To overcome the limitations posed by such fragmented infrastructure, the NEP recommends the formation of school complexes or innovative groupings of public schools. This approach aims to facilitate better resource sharing, improved teacher deployment, and more efficient governance.

Quality Education

  • At its core, the policy places a strong emphasis on Quality Education across all stages of school learning. Quality, as defined in the NEP, is not merely academic excellence—it is the nurturing of well-rounded, confident individuals capable of contributing meaningfully to society. Education must be a mind-crafting and character-building experience that fosters responsible citizenship. Empowered learners are the foundation of a just, equitable, and progressive India, and the NEP charts a clear path toward realizing this vision.

How is NEP Enhancing Exams: Making Assessments More Meaningful

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is bringing a refreshing shift in the way examinations are perceived and conducted in India. Moving away from the pressure-driven, rote-based evaluation system, the policy aims to make exams ‘easier’ in spirit—not by lowering standards, but by focusing on core competencies, understanding, and application. The goal is to reduce the over-reliance on coaching centers and empower students to learn meaningfully in classrooms and at home.

  • One of the landmark changes is in board examinations, which will now be offered twice a year. This gives students a valuable opportunity to improve their scores without the fear of “one-shot” pressure, allowing them to plan and pace their learning more effectively.
  • The format of exam questions is also evolving. Board papers will now have a mix of objective (MCQs) and descriptive questions. This will enable conceptual clarity and written expression. This variety encourages critical thinking rather than memorization.
  • Further supporting this transformation, the National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct a high-quality Common Aptitude Test and subject-specific exams at least twice a year. These standardized, nationwide tests are designed to evaluate true aptitude and subject knowledge, making college admissions more equitable and transparent.

Together, these changes are laying the foundation for a more balanced and student-centric assessment system. A system that nurtures learning instead of fear.

What’s Changing for Teachers Under NEP 2020?

Teachers are at the heart of any education reform, and the National Education Policy 2020 places strong emphasis on empowering teachers to become facilitators of meaningful learning. Recognizing that quality education begins with well-supported teachers, NEP 2020 introduces a structured framework for continuous professional development.

  • A key mandate is that every teacher will undergo a minimum of 50 hours of annual training. The training will focus not just on subject content, but also on the latest pedagogical practices. The purpose is to keep them up-to-date with evolving teaching methodologies. This will promote deeper student engagement and better learning outcomes.
  • Additionally, the policy encourages active participation with the National Educational Technology Forum (NETF). Through NETF, teachers gain exposure to cutting-edge digital tools and technologies, enabling them to effectively integrate ICT (Information and Communication Technology) into their daily teaching practices.

This blended approach of training + technology equips teachers to adapt to modern classrooms, personalize learning experiences, and stay agile in a rapidly changing education landscape. Ultimately, NEP 2020’s focus on teacher development is a long-term investment which aims at building a motivated, tech-savvy, and pedagogically strong teaching force across the country.

Funding and Resource Allocation: Turning NEP 2020 Vision into Reality

One of the ambitious goals of NEP 2020 is to raise public investment in education to 6% of India’s GDP. This signals a strong national commitment to quality learning for all. In the past three years, over ₹1.3 lakh crore has been allocated toward this vision, a significant step forward.

However, challenges remain. Inconsistent disbursement under key educational schemes has slowed progress on the ground. To truly bring NEP 2020 to life across all states and classrooms, effective budgeting, efficient fund flow, and timely resource allocation are essential. It’s not just about the amount of investment—but how wisely and impactfully it is used. With focused financial planning and accountability, this investment has the potential to transform the education ecosystem from infrastructure and teacher training to digital access and equitable learning opportunities.

How iDream Education Is Turning NEP 2020 Into Reality for School Education?

At iDream Education, we are excited to witness the clear direction and impactful reforms brought by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. As a part of India’s education ecosystem, we are taking deliberate, NEP-aligned steps to ensure meaningful learning outcomes across schools nationwide.

Some of it includes:

  • Our subject matter experts continuously monitor updates from national and state curriculum. As part of this, we’ve already updated textbooks and digital content for Classes 3 and 6 based on the latest NCERT changes and we are actively working on content for Classes 4, 5, 7, and 8.
  • Understanding the importance of regional access and inclusivity, we’ve developed curriculum-aligned digital content in 11 languages, including Hindi and English. This multi-language content is already being used across 23 states in India. This is to ensure students learn in the language they are most comfortable with.
  • To support NEP’s vision of competency-based assessments, we maintain a growing repository of over 60,000 questions. We are also actively implementing a personalized adaptive learning solution to help students bridge historical learning gaps. Our adaptive learning technology is build a strong foundation as they progress from one stage to the next, in line with the new NEP structure.
  • We also recognize that teachers are central to NEP’s success. That’s why our on-ground teams are focused on teacher training and capacity building, helping them use technology meaningfully in their classrooms. We also empower them with student usage analytics, so they can take data-driven decisions to enhance lesson planning and support individual learning progress.
  • In line with NEP’s emphasis on holistic development, we go beyond academics by curating and creating multi-category content that promotes experiential, activity-based learning, making education more joyful and relevant for students.

We would be happy to connect with you and give a demo of our NEP-aligned content and solutions. To know more or schedule a session, you may contact us at +91 7678265039. You can also write to us at share@idreameducation.org or share your details here.

Closing Thoughts

As India marches ahead into the ‘Amrit Kaal’—the 25-year journey towards becoming a Developed Nation by 2047—the National Education Policy stands as a cornerstone for transforming the education landscape. With its visionary approach, the policy is poised to create a robust, inclusive, and future-ready system that nurtures skilled, empowered, and globally competent citizens. However, turning this vision into reality demands commitment and collaboration from all stakeholders—Central and State Governments, Union Territories, Higher Education Institutions, Regulatory Bodies, and education leaders across the spectrum. Only through collective and sustained efforts can we ensure that the NEP’s promise translates into lasting, meaningful impact for generations to come.

What does it take to be the Best NGO in Education for CSR Tie-Ups?

Posted on by Ayushi Agarwal
Cover image of blog guiding companies on collaborating with best NGOs in education for CSR Tie-Ups

With growing attention on improving learning outcomes in Indian schools, one of the most effective and sustainable ways to bring real change to school education is through strong partnerships. This is especially true at the grassroots level, where collaboration between NGOs and CSR programs can have a significant impact. When one of the best Education NGO for CSR collaborates, it becomes more than just a project. It becomes a mission with a lasting footprint.

This kind of partnership stands out across the social sector. This is because it brings together two forces with a shared purpose: one that understands the ground realities. The partnership where one has experience in education interventions, and works closely with students and teachers. While, the other one brings the capacity to scale, fund, and sustain that intervention. Together, they work to bridge the educational divide by delivering solutions that reach last-mile learners.

So, what truly sets the best NGO in education apart when it comes to CSR tie-ups—and how do they manage to deliver lasting impact in schools? 

They go beyond one-time donations or events. Instead, they enable measurable outcomes such as improved learning levels, teacher capacity building, strategic interventions and school empowerment. Further, this continues to create small changes even after the initial phase of support is over. Therefore, for stakeholders, be it corporates, school leaders, or implementation partners—it’s important to know what to look for in such collaborations. This primarily includes alignment of purpose, ability to work at the grassroots, and a clear roadmap for scale.

What Does It Take to Deliver Lasting Impact in Schools?

Creating a meaningful and lasting impact in schools requires much more than just allocating a budget and implementing a solution. When educational investments are made with a deeper commitment, the journey extends far beyond the initial rollout. It involves a strategic and holistic approach that begins at the planning stage and continues well into long-term support.

Each step must be carefully designed to prioritize the actual needs of the schools, select the right solutions based on students’ learning levels, ensure adequate teacher training, provide ongoing support , and track steady progress. The goal is not just to implement the solution but to integrate it seamlessly into daily teaching and learning processes—so that it becomes a part of everyday school life.

Based on our extensive on-ground experience as one of the best NGO in education for CSR Tie-Ups, we have identified several key steps that are essential to ensuring real, sustainable impact. This includes:

Illustration showing key steps followed by NGOs in education for CSR to ensure real, measurable, and sustainable impact

School Profiling

This is the foundation of any impactful CSR initiative. The process begins by aligning the CSR objective with the geography and type of schools the program aims to support. In this NGO team, along with the CSR program team, visits shortlisted regions to profile schools based on key parameters such as number of classes, infrastructure, current teaching methods, and discussions with school leaders and teachers. This thorough profiling helps in identifying the right schools and finalising suitable digital learning solutions.

Baseline Assessment

While some CSR programs may choose to directly implement solutions such as smart classes, tablets, or digital libraries, we believe baseline assessment is a critical, non-negotiable step. Through digital tools such as clicker systems or tablets with diagnostic content—we assess the current learning levels of students from their current grade and two levels below. The data from this step guides whether to introduce a personalised and adaptive learning platform for deep learning gaps or smart classroom tools when the need is more instructional support and engagement.

Choice of Solution

Solution selection is a collaborative decision between the NGO and the CSR team. It’s based on the assessment insights, project goals, and available budget. In cases where a baseline is not conducted, our recommendation often includes versatile tools such as smart classes, tablet-based ICT labs, digital libraries, or learning tablets.

Experiential Training

After installation, our team conducts in-depth, hands-on training sessions for teachers and students. These sessions cover K-12 LMS navigation, content access, and usage of the solution in daily learning. CSR partners are encouraged to join these sessions to share their vision directly with stakeholders—strengthening motivation and ownership at the school level.

Monthly Progress Tracking

Tracking monthly usage and learning progress by connecting with teachers and data tracking on the reporting dashboard helps measure the solution’s adoption and effectiveness. It also allows early identification of gaps and the need for mid-course corrections. These are done through bridge programs, additional content, re training, or tech refinements. This step plays a vital role in ensuring the initiative remains responsive and impactful.

Ongoing Support

Our continued handholding distinguishes us as one of the best NGO in Education for CSR Tie-Ups. Regular follow-ups, helpline access, and quick technical support ensure that the solution never loses momentum due to operational hurdles. This ongoing support empowers teachers and students to stay engaged and confident in using digital tools.

Endline Assessment

At the end of the academic cycle, we conduct a comprehensive endline assessment to evaluate learning gains against the baseline. This comparison not only highlights student progress but also showcases the effectiveness of the CSR initiative—reinforcing the value of well-implemented, need-based educational interventions.

Creating real change in school education through CSR is not just about installing technology—it’s about ensuring it delivers outcomes that are measurable, sustainable, and deeply aligned with the learning needs of students. 

Closing Thoughts

At iDream Education, we have spent years coming up with a step-by-step model that enables scalable, effective NGO digital learning interventions. As one of the best NGOs in education for CSR tie-ups, we go beyond implementation to ensure every stakeholder—teachers, students, school leaders, and CSR partners—experiences value, growth, and transformation.

Our structured, needs-based approach focuses on right investment through continuous support and customised solutions. From the very first step – profiling schools and conducting learning-level assessments to final impact reporting, every stage of the project is driven by data, empathy, and a strong commitment to outcomes. Whether it’s Smart Classes, Personalized Adaptive Learning (PAL), or offline-first tablet-based solutions, we design and deliver what truly fits the school and student context.

A Trusted EdTech NGO Enabling Digital Learning Across India

We are happy to be the best NGO in Education for CSR Tie-Ups, committed to enabling digital learning access for all, especially in rural and underserved communities. Our mission is to bridge the learning gap for students in government schools and empower teachers with tools that make teaching engaging and effective.

Our work has spanned across 20+ states in India, with solutions tailored to diverse regional and infrastructural contexts. From the hills of the Northeast to the interiors of Uttar Pradesh, MP, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and more we’ve implemented scalable models of digital education that adapt to the needs of each community.

Our Impact So Far:

Image guiding viewers to case studies that showcase the impact of NGOs in education through CSR initiatives
  • We successfully rolled out 756 learning tablets across 18 government schools—6 in Rajasthan and 12 in Punjab—equipping each school with 42 tablets to enhance classroom learning. The tablets offer curriculum-aligned PAL content for Grades 6–8 and engaging digital content for Grades 1–8, with language customisation (Hindi/English for Rajasthan and Punjabi/English for Punjab). Our on-ground team conducted experiential training in every school and continues to provide active support on usage to both students and teachers and data to our CSR partners.
  • We have empowered over 6,000 students in rural areas with personalized learning devices, giving them offline access to complete K-12 course materials anytime, anywhere. This initiative, implemented across 55 schools in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh, played a crucial role in bridging COVID-19-induced learning gaps and ensuring uninterrupted education. Read More
  • A student who was using the PAL software on 10 tablets in the PAL Lab set up at her learning centre has shown inspiring progress. After six months of consistent use and closing learning gaps through adaptive content, she has now been enrolled in a formal school to continue her education journey. Read More
and there are many more such inspiring stories of learners getting back on track through digital learning.

What makes us a Best NGO in Education for CSR Tie-Ups is our end-to-end, outcome-focused approach:

  • Needs-Based Implementation: Every program begins with on-ground school visits and assessments. We ensure the solution aligns with actual learning levels, infrastructure, and teaching capacity.
  • Offline-First Technology: Many rural schools still face low connectivity. Our K-12 content and platform is built to work seamlessly without the internet, ensuring consistent access.
  • Scalable Digital Models: Whether it’s Smart Classrooms, Digital Libraries, or PAL tablets, our solutions are designed for scale—easy to install, manage, and use across many schools.
  • Comprehensive Training & Support: We don’t stop at deployment. Our teams regularly visit schools for experiential training, refresher sessions, and on-call support. Teachers and students feel confident and motivated to integrate digital into everyday learning.
  • Impact Measurement: We provide dashboard-based tracking to CSR teams, showing real-time usage, engagement, and learning progress. This helps in evaluating ROI and showcasing impact to internal stakeholders.

If you are a CSR leader or a corporate foundation looking to drive real educational impact, we invite you to collaborate with us. Let’s design and implement a digital learning NGO-CSR program that is meaningful, efficient, and results-driven. You may contact us at +91 7678265039 for detailed discussion. You can also share your details here or write to us at share@idreameducation.org

Buy CBSE and NCERT Digital Content for Smart Learning in Schools and at Home

Posted on by Ayushi Agarwal

When looking to buy NCERT content, it is recommended to purchase the full suite. This includes syllabus books, video lessons, practice modules, assessments, and PDF solutions. Additionally, NCERT video solutions, revision notes, and resources for all classes and subjects should be included. But before you buy, learn how to choose a safe, reliable, and effective resource for your students and teachers.

Cover image of the blog guiding You to Details of NCERT Content You Should Consider Before Buying

If you’re a school, teacher, parent, social sector organization, NGO, edtech platform, or anyone in the education ecosystem looking to buy NCERT content, you’ll quickly find that there are dozens of websites and vendors offering it. But the real challenge isn’t just availability — it’s finding CBSE – NCERT content that is truly aligned, credible, offline, and packed with meaningful learning resources all in one place.

Today, many platforms claim to offer NCERT curriculum content, but not all are strictly mapped to the latest NCERT learning outcomes. They do not even follow the textbook structure as mandated by CBSE, nor do they align to the NEP. Some may provide only videos, others only PDFs or quizzes — making it hard to get a complete, unified learning experience. Moreover, issues such as outdated formats and content, lack of interactivity, or misaligned topics can cause confusion for students and inefficiencies for teachers.

What’s needed is a trusted source that not only offers comprehensive NCERT content across subjects and grades but also ensures that the content is safe, updated, pedagogically sound, and engaging. Whether you are digitizing classrooms, building your own learning platform, or simply want to enhance at-home learning, you need a solution that integrates everything. This includes animated videos, chapter-wise assessments, interactive activities, notes, video solutions, and more. All of these are perfectly mapped to the NCERT curriculum to ensure comprehensive learning.

Know what makes NCERT content reliable, What to Check Before Buying, and How to Maximize Learning Impact?

Strict Alignment with Academic Standards and Competency Frameworks 

One of the key reasons NCERT content is considered highly reliable is its strict alignment with the learning outcomes, academic goals, and competency-based frameworks defined by CBSE and NCERT. This alignment is not just about covering textbook chapters. It ensures that the digital content supports the exact educational intent envisioned in national policy and curriculum documents.

Image illustrating the NCERT learning outcomes and competency framework by CBSE
  • For instance, the NCERT’s Learning Outcomes framework clearly outlines what a student should be able to know and do at the end of each grade and subject. When looking to buy NCERT content, go for well-aligned K-12 learning material. It should be designed to deliver on these outcomes through appropriately structured explanations, activities, questions, and assessments. Moreover, the National Education Policy 2020 emphasizes foundational literacy, critical thinking, and application-oriented learning. It becomes critical that any digital solution reinforces these goals.
  • What to watch out for: Many K-12 services, platforms and digital products claim to be “NCERT-based” but fail to follow the actual sequence of concepts, learning progression, or the depth required by the competency framework. Check if the content maps directly to NCERT learning outcomes, includes competency-focused practice, and offers multi-modal explanations tailored for diverse learners.
  • How to ensure maximum learning impact: Choose K-12 companies and platforms or NCERT content providers that offer transparent mapping to NCERT and CBSE standards. This way, your investment is not just on buying NCERT content, but in delivering solutions that are aligned with the national academic vision and classroom learning needs.

Buy NCERT Content

Choose NCERT Content Available in Multiple Formats to Support Every Student and Teacher

While the NCERT Books form the backbone of school education in India, effective learning requires going far beyond static pages. Today’s classrooms are diverse and students have different learning styles, paces, and preferences. Some grasp concepts better through visuals, others through listening or hands-on practice. Similarly, teachers need a variety of teaching aids to make lessons more comprehensive, engaging and adaptable. 

Image guiding you to buy NCERT content in multi-category format, showcasing digital content in various forms like NCERT PDF solutions, NCERT video solutions, revision notes,representing a diverse learning experience
  • Choose to Buy NCERT Content that truly enhances learning outcomes and make the most of your investment in education: For this it is essential to choose providers that offer NCERT Digital content in a wide range of formats. This includes animated videos for concept clarity and visual engagement, syllabus books and notes for easy revision and comprehension, as well as workbooks and worksheets for regular practice and reinforcement. Additionally, audiobooks cater to auditory learners and make revision accessible anytime, while NCERT sample papers aid in exam preparation and self-assessment. For guided learning support, NCERT PDF solutions and NCERT video solutions provide step-by-step problem-solving help. This multi-format approach ensures that students with diverse learning styles—visual, auditory, and kinesthetic—can connect meaningfully with the curriculum. At the same time, it empowers teachers with ready-to-use, NCERT-aligned resources that simplify lesson planning, enhance classroom engagement, and support comprehensive assessments.
  • What to watch out for: Avoid content that is just a re-packaging of textbooks in digital form. True multi-format NCERT content is interactive, engaging, and intentionally designed to fulfill specific learning goals and competencies in different ways.
  • How to ensure maximum learning impact: Choose NCERT content partners or platforms that offer curriculum-mapped resources across formats, with teacher-friendly resources for lesson planning and tracking dashboards. This ensures that teaching resources become active learning tools, not just passive content.

Buy NCERT Content That’s Built Natively in Both Hindi and English

Bilingual digital learning content ensures that learners can access educational material in both their local language and English, enhancing understanding and retention. It bridges language barriers, promotes inclusivity, and supports smoother transitions to multilingual learning environments. Hindi is the most widely spoken language and the primary medium of instruction in a large number of schools following the NCERT curriculum. With several state boards also aligning themselves to NCERT and promoting Hindi as a preferred language, it is becoming essential for NCERT education solutions to offer high-quality NCERT content in both Hindi and English.  

  • To ensure real learning impact: Buy NCERT content that is natively developed in Hindi—with original text, neutral Hindi audio (not just voiceovers), and accurate transliteration to preserve subject integrity and make the experience immersive and relatable. The same level of native quality should be available in English. Moreover, don’t limit bilingual content to just videos. High-impact education must offer every format—animated videos, digital notes, syllabus books, worksheets, workbooks, audiobooks, sample papers, PDF and video solutions—in both languages. This empowers students and teachers in Hindi- and English-medium schools equally, allowing them to engage deeply in the language they are most comfortable with. It also supports bilingual teaching environments and eases transitions between the two languages.
  • What to watch out for: Avoid platforms that offer partial Hindi support or rely on literal translations and inconsistent accents. These often lead to learner confusion and disengagement.
  • How to ensure maximum learning impact: Look for NCERT Content providers that offer comprehensive NCERT content in for learning in Hindi and English both, across all key subjects—Mathematics, EVS, Science, History, Civics, Geography, Political Science, Business Studies, Accountancy, Economics, and Computers—with language-native clarity and a structured approach to bilingual learning. This should be enabled and packaged on a user friendly and easy to use K-12 E-Learning platform such as iPrep by iDream Education.  

Two Must-Have Factors to Consider When Buying NCERT Digital Content for Rural and Semi-Urban Schools

Offline Accessibility 

A critical factor in making your investment in NCERT digital content truly impactful is ensuring offline accessibility. Many schools across India, especially in remote and rural regions, have no/little internet connectivity. In such cases, a solution that depends heavily on internet access becomes ineffective and frustrating for both students and teachers. When selecting NCERT digital content, ensure that it works entirely offline once installed—including video lessons, notes, practice, syllabus books, and all other categories—so that learning can happen anytime, without dependency on live internet.

Up to date content

Additionally, with the frequent updates in NCERT textbooks, such as the changes already rolled out for classes 3 and 6 in 2024, your chosen digital content must be regularly updated. This should be done in sync with updates for classes 4, 5, 7, and 8, and similar changes. But here’s the catch: even if the provider claims their content is updated, what matters is how easily and how often schools can access those updates. Therefore, opt for a provider who: offers regular and timely updates aligned with NCERT’s latest curriculum. Further, consider the NCERT content provider who enables quick updates with minimal internet usage—even just a short connection window should be enough to refresh the device and ensure all new content is in place.

By checking above all the aspects, you can ensure that your digital education investment truly serves its purpose. And, you are able to deliver multi-category, NCERT aligned, uninterrupted, up-to-date learning in every classroom, regardless of location.

If you’re looking to buy NCERT that is safe, reliable, and packed with rich learning resources—all in one comprehensive solution, you may contact us at +91 7678265039. You can also share your details here or write to us at share@idreameducation.org. Our dedicated team of subject matter experts continuously works on creating and curating NCERT-aligned resources across categories. With this we envision to enable an enjoyable and engaging and comprehensive learning experience for all learners. At the same time, the content empowers teachers with a wide range of high-quality materials in effective lesson planning and delivery. With our solution, both teaching and learning become more efficient, enriching, and aligned to academic goals.

No More Choosing Between Apps: A Story of Bilingual Learning App from Schools of Tamil Nadu

Posted on by Ayushi Agarwal
Cover image of blog showing how bilingual learning app on smart class eases classroom instruction in local languages

Ever tried finding information online in your preferred language? Chances are, you typed your query into Google—only to see results mostly in English or Hindi. If you needed the same information in Kannada, Tamil, Marathi, or any other regional language, you’d probably have to rephrase your search and add language-specific keywords. Then, you’d still need to dig through several links just to find something relevant

Now, imagine this challenge from the perspective of a student/teachers

A student/teacher in a school of Tamil Nadu and is learning/teaching in Tamil medium, looks forward to using digital content but when search finds very little information that’s useful. This is because the digital world is still largely built around English. Even when digital content exists in Tamil, it’s scattered across multiple platforms and often not aligned with the school curriculum. And we expect a student/teacher to know how to search effectively, compare content, and ensure it is syllabus-based—all while juggling between different apps or websites in different languages. It becomes overwhelming, time-consuming, and demotivating.

This is where the gap widens.

While the world talks about personalized learning and digital inclusion, the basic availability of school curriculum-aligned content in a local language remains a hurdle. The need is simple: a single, easy-to-use digital platform. A platform where a student or teacher can find content in the language they are comfortable with. There’s no need to search, switch, or compromise.

What if we tell you this is not just a possibility—it’s already happening?

Through our Bilingual Learning App, we’ve introduced a solution that bridges the language gap. It allows students/teachers to access all their syllabus aligned content in their preferred languages from a single platform. More than 10 lakh students and thousands of teachers are no longer switching apps or guessing keywords. They’re also no longer struggling to learn in English or their mother tongue.

Let us take you to the classrooms of Tamil Nadu, where this has given us some good insights. This is the story of how a bilingual learning app has brought ease, equity, and excitement back into the learning journey for students.

This comes from a social sector implementation of smart classes, carried out in two phases across schools in Kanchipuram and Ramanathapuram. The smart classrooms were set up equipped with Android TVs, pre-installed with a bilingual Learning Management System and preloaded Tamil Nadu Board aligned content in both Tamil and English. The content covered subjects such as Maths, Science, and Social Studies, along with MCQs, syllabus-aligned textbooks, English literature, subject material in both languages, activity videos for Maths and Science, and a digital book library containing thousands of books across multiple genres.

Although, the implementation was carried out recently in 2025

During a recent meeting in Bangalore with our partner, one of the leading social sector organisations who worked closely with us in the project shared something heartening. The bilingual feature of iPrep has not only made learning more accessible but has also sparked genuine excitement among both students and teachers.

They further extended the conversation and shared that in a government school where 60 students are enrolled in a class. Among 60, 58 of them study in Tamil medium, while 2 students are from the English medium. Previously, the school was considering taking subscription to a separate app just to cater to those 2 students. But once they started using iPrep, they discovered its bilingual capabilities—something they weren’t initially aware of when the project began.

This discovery turned out to be a game-changer. 

Teachers no longer had to juggle between different resources. They could now seamlessly support the learning needs of all students. They switch to both the medium in one one click to cater to language needs of all students. It created an inclusive and equitable classroom experience. No student had to feel left behind just because of a language barrier.

This is not an isolated case. It’s a reflection of a deeper belief: every student deserves the opportunity to learn in the language they understand best.

Let’s look at practical value of a Bilingual Learning App

List highlighting the practical benefits of a bilingual learning app
  • Inclusive Classrooms: Through a bilingual learning app you are able to serve students from different language backgrounds in the same classroom, without the need for separate resources.
  • Enhanced Understanding: Students grasp concepts better when explained in a language they are familiar with.
  • Teacher Convenience: Bilingual learning app enables teachers to deliver lessons more effectively without having to repeat or translate content manually.
  • Improved Engagement: Students feel more confident and motivated to learn when they can navigate content in their preferred language.
  • Equity in Learning: Bilingual education ensures that no child is left out due to language barriers, creating equal learning opportunities for all.
  • Flexibility for Transition: Bilingual learning app supports students shifting from one medium to another (like from vernacular to English), making the transition smoother.

At iDream Education, we’ve built iPrep to meet the diverse language needs of students across India. The iPrep app offers curriculum-aligned content in Hindi, English, and 9 regional languages. Our bilingual learning app covers multiple categories such as animated videos, practice questions, notes, and more.

If you’d like to explore curriculum-aligned digital content in the language followed by your school, you may contact us at +91 7678265039. You can also share your details here or write to us at share@idreameducation.org

Read More: Story of Gurpreet: The Impact of Bilingual Learning Content is Real!

Why Does Every School Need a Storage and Charging Rack for Tablets?

Posted on by Ayushi Agarwal
Cover image of the blog showing a charging and storage rack neatly organizing multiple tablets in a classroom or digital learning setup

When we started bringing tablets into classrooms back in 2016, it felt like a big step towards making learning more fun and engaging for students. But soon, we were hit with a bunch of practical questions from teachers and school staff. 

The most common ones were: How do we charge these tablets? Where do we keep them safely? Who will take care of all this every day? At first, we thought these were small issues—but we quickly realized they were actually very important. 

We still remember a teacher telling us, “I don’t even know where to charge all these tablets.” That one line really made us stop and think. We were so focused on bringing in the latest technology that we forgot to make it easy for the people who will use it the most. This made one thing very clear: If using technology feels like a burden, it won’t work, no matter how good it is. 

With this learning, we aligned even more strongly with our core philosophy—to make technology easy and seamless for both students and teachers.

We can not expect a teacher to come in every morning, unlock a cupboard, take out 25 tablets, look for 25 switches, and make sure each tablet is charged? That’s not just tough; it’s almost impossible to manage every single day, especially in rural schools that lack infrastructure and experience frequent power cuts.

This realization led us to an essential component of any digital classroom setup: the Storage and Charging Rack for Tablets

These are specially designed charging trolleys that can charge and store multiple tablets at once. Far from being just a piece of hardware, it is a smart solution that addresses multiple challenges at once—charging, safekeeping, and device management. 

Moreover, our charging rack solution is also thoughtfully aligned with the revisions in the ICT Scheme under Samagra Shiksha, which now emphasizes streamlined setups for ICT labs. These revisions encourage the inclusion of charging racks as part of a complete ICT ecosystem, alongside devices such as tablets, laptops, notebooks, PCs, Integrated Teaching-Learning Devices, Digital Boards, Content Management Systems (CMS), Learning Management Systems (LMS), and Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). Know More. The goal behind these updates is clear: to make ICT labs easier to set up, manage, and use consistently within classrooms, ensuring that digital tools truly support everyday learning.

Let’s dive deeper into what these storage and charging racks are and the practical value they bring to every School

Image showing practical benefits of tablet storage and charging racks in schools

Designed for Mobility and Ease of Use

Storage and charging racks are built for easy setup and mobility, making them ideal for schools with varying infrastructure. Standing 3–4 feet tall and equipped with wheels at the base, these racks can be easily transported and set up in schools in remote or difficult-to-reach areas. Once on-site, students and teachers can effortlessly move them from one classroom to another. Whether placed in a dedicated room or used across different classrooms, their portability ensures smooth and flexible integration into the school environment.

Efficient Charging Solution for Rural and Low-Infrastructure Schools

Charging trolley for tablets are versatile charging stations that can accommodate and simultaneously charge between 5 to 60 tablets. This makes them a highly valuable solution for schools in rural areas that often face frequent power outages. These trolleys require just a single power outlet and can charge all tablets at once, streamlining the charging process. Charging racks fully charge the tablets in about 4–5 hours, after which students can use them for 7–8 hours—the entire school duration. By plugging in the trolley wherever and whenever electricity is available in the school, teachers ensure the tablets stay charged and ready for uninterrupted digital learning throughout the day.

Secure and Organized Device Management for Schools and Learning Centres

Charging trolleys for digital libraries (also known as Charging racks) are designed to make it significantly easier for teachers to manage student devices.  Charging racks in digital libraries are indispensable where tablets are central to student access to learning material, reading material and multimedia content. These racks prevent device mismanagement and ensure uninterrupted access to digital learning content for students. They feature a strong door with a reliable locking system to safeguard the devices. They are specifically designed to save teachers’ time in handling and organizing devices. With all tablets stored and charged in one secure location, teachers can assign student monitors to oversee the setup, promoting accountability and responsible use among students. Further, this makes storage and charging racks ideal not only for schools but also for community centers and outreach initiatives such as e-rickshaw learning programs and other mobile education setups.

Customizable Storage & Charging Rack

Primarily designed for tablets, this charging trolley can also accommodate notebooks, chromebooks, laptops, and other devices as per the project requirements—making it an all-in-one solution for diverse digital education initiatives. With devices such as Chromebooks for Education, you can give your students access to curriculum-aligned digital content and powerful Google tools such as Google Slides, Sheets, Docs, and Classroom. This not only supports interactive learning but also builds essential digital skills. The customizable charging trolleys safely store and charge your devices, keeping them ready to use. They actively enhance the overall learning experience.

Built-in Cooling System for Longevity and Safety

This Charging Station is equipped with a dedicated cooling fan that maintains an optimal temperature for all stored devices. By preventing overheating, it not only ensures device safety but also extends their lifespan. This makes the storage and charging rack a cost-effective and durable investment for schools, community centres, and other learning programs.

With all these features, 

We’ve made it incredibly easy for teachers to manage student devices in schools without any hassle. Whether it’s charging, storage, or scaling up device usage, the system streamlines everything for maximum efficiency. The design is so simple and intuitive that even student monitors can handle the devices safely. Built from non-hazardous, durable materials, the tablet charging rack ensures maximum safety for students while offering peace of mind to teachers and administrators alike.

Important Extras You Should Know About Our Storage and Charging Racks

Charging Trolley for Tablets: More Than Just Power Supply

A charging trolley for tablets and notebooks is more than a place to plug in devices. It’s a mobile charging station that brings efficiency in tablet-based learning. Schools with digital libraries can benefit immensely from a well designed charging trolley that not only keeps devices powered but also ensures every tablet and notebook is secure, easy to find and ready to use each day.

Integrated Storage and Charging Station for Modern School Setups

The combined storage and charging station allows labs, and often classrooms to maintain a clutter free environment. These stations simplify logistics by bringing together power supply, storage security, and cable management into a single compact unit. In schools where multiple devices are in use, these stations reduce the burden on teachers. It also help students follow a more disciplined routine of using devices.

Why Schools Need a Storage and Charging Rack for Tablets and Notebooks?

A purpose-built storage and charging rack for tablets in schools helps maintain order, extend device lifespan, and reduce misuse. Whether it’s a school, a learning center, or an NGO-led programme, these racks play a crucial role in managing devices. They ensure that devices are accessible, organized, and always ready to support the day’s learning.

Our final thoughts

Over the years, we have installed more than 500 storage and charging racks equipped with tablets. We have also set up charging racks with notebooks/chromebooks across schools in India. This setup is designed to be the most hassle-free solution for schools aiming to implement personalized learning systematically and effectively.

What truly sets this solution apart is how it aligns with students’ learning needs. Each tablet comes pre-installed with a Learning Management System (LMS). And the device is preloaded with curriculum-aligned digital content for Early Years to Grade 12. This includes bilingual content in Hindi, English, and various local languages, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility for all learners. Further, our rich content repository also beyond curriuclum content. This comprises interactive learning modules, exam preparation resources, book library access, life skills and value education, climate action courses, and cultural resources like the Ramayana. It also includes additional NCERT videos, PDFs, and a wealth of other materials.

With the storage and charging rack solution, students simply follow the timetable set by school administrators or teachers. They can then seamlessly access all the digital learning resources they need.

Furthermore, the charging racks keep all devices secure and properly managed. While, the curriculum aligned resources eliminate the concerns about random or inappropriate use of tablets. 

If you would like to explore our storage and charging rack solution tailored specifically for schools, we would be happy to help. To schedule you a live demo, you may contact us at +91 7678265039. We would be happy to guide you why every school needs a storage and charging rack for tablets. You can also share your details here or write to us at share@idreameducation.org

A Spotlight from PAL Works: Personalised Learning for Students, Data Insights for Teacher

Posted on by Ayushi Agarwal
Cover image of a blog highlighting key moments from the PAL Works Launch – a PAL Collective event showcasing innovations in Personalized Adaptive Learning

On May 20th, 2025, PAL Works launched in New Delhi — marking a major milestone for Personalized Adaptive Learning (PAL) in India’s public education system. This collective event brought together over 100 senior leaders from government, EdTech, philanthropy, and research. 

Their shared goal? 

To shape a future where every child in India can thrive through personalised and adaptive learning journeys.

As part of this movement, PAL Works is more than just an event. It is a collective effort or a coalition united by a bold vision and a focused mission:

  • Vision: Every child in India can achieve their full potential through personalised and adaptive learning journeys
  • Mission: To enable students in government schools to achieve higher learning outcomes through tech-enabled PAL solutions

At iDream Education, we are happy to be a part of this journey, contributing to the movement with our iPrep PAL solution. 

Here’s a quick walkthrough of what made this event so significant and why this momentum matters for the future of learning in India

What is PAL Works and Why It Matters

PAL Works is a coalition of 20+ organizations — including EdTech innovators, nonprofits, research institutions, and key consulting organizations — all coming together with a shared commitment to scaling PAL for public education. The collective is working on four core focus areas that are essential to move from pilots to mainstream adoption:

  • Enhancing the Product: Refining what works in PAL by improving effectiveness, usability, and alignment with teacher and system needs.
  • Improving Deployment: Creating practical playbooks, standard operating procedures, and strategies to enable scalable and contextual deployment across diverse schools.
  • Enabling Public Procurement: Simplifying procurement for government stakeholders with ready templates, evaluation frameworks, and robust policies.
  • Mainstreaming PAL: Raising awareness and building clarity around the ‘what’ and ‘why’ of PAL across governments, educators, and communities.

Together, these form a roadmap to help PAL solutions reach every government school in India, not just as tools, but as integrated, impactful learning companions.

Here are some key insights and takeaways from the PAL Works launch event that education stakeholders, policymakers, and EdTech leaders should know:

Collaboration at Scale

The sheer scale and diversity of stakeholders at PAL Works was a powerful indicator of the collective will to transform education. Over 20 organizations came together — pooling expertise, experience, and commitment to build scalable and sustainable PAL solutions.

A Shared Vision and Mission

Every child deserves an education that adapts to their pace, learning level, and aspirations. PAL Works reinforced this belief, anchored in the mission to enhance learning outcomes for students in government schools through technology-driven personalization.

Insights from ASER 2024

Findings from the latest ASER report shed light on a critical challenge: While today’s students are tech-savvy, increased internet access often leads to distractions and misuse, especially during independent learning. This underscores the importance of offline PAL content, which ensures focused, meaningful learning, even in settings where continuous internet access isn’t possible.

Ground Realities and State-Led Innovations

Success stories from states such as Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh demonstrated how well-designed PAL solutions can address real learning gaps. These implementations offered practical models that other states can adopt, tweak, and scale.

Need for Systemic Change

Speakers stressed the importance of aligning PAL with existing national efforts such as NIPUN Bharat and Vidya Pravesh. PAL has the potential to accelerate these programs by offering targeted remediation, continuous student feedback, and insights-driven teaching.

From Pilot to Mainstream

The event focused on making PAL not just a promising idea but a scalable reality. Simplified procurement frameworks, better product design, and strong deployment support are all part of this transition.

One message that particularly resonated came from Santhosh Mathew of the Gates Foundation:

“While we’re ensuring that students use PAL to address their learning gaps, we must equally focus on empowering teachers — helping them interpret student data to personalize instruction and truly improve outcomes.”

This sentiment perfectly captures the mindset shift that PAL represents. It’s not just about introducing new tools, but about reimagining the role of teachers as facilitators who can use data meaningfully to uplift every child.

iDream Education at PAL Works

We are happy to present our iPrep PAL solution at the PAL Works launch, alongside our project partners Lotus Petal Foundation and Aide et Action. Their support has been invaluable in implementing iPrep PAL on the ground, and it was heartening to see the visible learning gains made by students who regularly use the platform.

Rohit Prakash representing iDream Education at the PAL Works Launch 2025 event, a PAL Collective initiative

Why our PAL solution is recognised as one of the products already driving real impact

Our solution focuses equally on two pillars:

  • Bridging student learning gaps through adaptive digital content
  • Empowering teachers with actionable insights to personalize instruction

By enabling teachers to interpret student usage data, we help them identify both individual and class-wide learning gaps. Thereby, empowering them to improve lesson delivery, planning, and student engagement. On the other hand, we are also ensuring that every student receives the support they need to learn at their own pace and truly thrive.

PAL, therefore, is not merely a product — it’s a movement. One that is inclusive, adaptive, and deeply rooted in the realities of India’s public education system.

What’s Next? With the momentum created at the PAL Works launch, the next steps involve:

  • Scaling successful implementations
  • Helping states adopt PAL solutions confidently
  • Strengthening feedback loops between students, teachers, and systems

Interested in Exploring PAL Further?

If you’d like to learn more about the PAL Works event or explore how our iPrep PAL solution can support your school, district, or learning initiative, you may contact us at +91 7678265039. You can also share your details here or write to us share@idreameducation.org

Are AI-Integrated Learning Apps Ready for Indian Learners? Exploring Two Key Challenges

Posted on by Ayushi Agarwal
Are AI-integrated learning apps ready for Indian learners? Explore two key challenges of it and what should you look for in an AI Learning App

Kids today are naturally curious—constantly exploring, asking questions, and engaging with digital devices more than ever before. What’s striking is how quickly they’ve started turning to AI tools such as ChatGPT for answers, explanations, and even help with homework. It’s fascinating to witness, but it also prompts a deeper question:

As children increasingly turn to AI for seeking knowledge, can AI-integrated learning apps truly meet the real needs of Indian learners?

As we move through 2025, AI in education is more than a trend. It’s a buzzword, a promise, and for many EdTech companies, a key selling point. From personalized practice questions to instant doubt-solving and even automated lesson planning for teachers, AI seems to be everywhere. But beyond the excitement, it’s time to pause and ask a more fundamental question:

Do these AI-integrated learning apps actively fulfill the competency requirements set by the Indian curriculum system?

Based on our recent conversations with partners working in the social sector, & our experience of building digital learning tools, we see that AI holds immense promise for education. However, to make AI truly meaningful and inclusive for Indian learners, two key challenges must be addressed. Tackling these challenges is essential to realizing AI’s full potential in the Indian education landscape.

Illustration highlighting two challenges faced by learning apps that claim to be AI-integrated learning apps

Challenge 1: Lack of Alignment with Indian Curriculum 

Many learning apps claim to be “AI-powered,” but it’s important to dig deeper and ask: What kind of AI is being offered? Is it capable of enhancing learning outcomes, or is it simply a content generator? In one of our recent interactions, a partner asked us whether our app also had the kind of AI features many platforms are now advertising.” Our response was clear—and it’s one we believe every education leader should reflect on:

  • AI-integrated learning apps can now generate content that appears aligned with Indian textbooks. However, this alignment alone does not guarantee effective learning. For AI to be genuinely useful in the context of the Indian curriculum, it must go beyond general educational content. We need to train and design it according to national and state competency frameworks.
  • Learners in India – especially in government schools—need structured support. That means contextual questions, localised explanations, and guided learning that bridges gaps in understanding. AI-generated questions or random quizzes may look engaging, but if they are not curriculum-relevant or pedagogically sound, they risk becoming distractions rather than enablers.
  • Moreover, the Indian curriculum system—CBSE, NCERT, and various state boards—emphasizes skill-based learning. AI systems that don’t map to those learning outcomes might miss the mark entirely.

Challenge 2: Infrastructure & Safety Readiness of AI Integrated Learning Apps

While internet penetration in India is improving, connectivity remains a major hurdle in many rural and remote regions. Even in semi-urban government schools, stable bandwidth, power supply, and reliable devices cannot be taken for granted. In such scenarios, an AI integrated learning app that requires continuous internet connectivity may be impressive in theory but ineffective in practice. Hence, AI in education, especially for rural and low-resource settings, is still more of a ‘good-to-have’ than a ‘must-have’ until the infrastructure catches up.

  • Another critical aspect is AI safety and digital literacy. As AI becomes more popular and accessible, there are currently no formal guidelines or frameworks in India on how AI should be used by school students. Without clear policies and guardrails, exposing young learners to AI can lead to risks ranging from misinformation to data privacy concerns, or even over-reliance on AI responses without critical thinking.
  • With the experience of working closely with students for more than 8 years now, we believe just because students can interact with AI doesn’t mean they are ready to use it responsibly. This is where digital literacy, teacher support, and well-designed AI interfaces become essential. The responsibility lies with EdTech companies and school leaders to ensure that AI tools don’t just work, but also work ethically and safely.

What Should You Look For in an AI Learning App?

When you come across an “AI-integrated Learning app,” we recommend looking beyond the buzz. Here are a few key things to check:

  • Is the content aligned with the Indian curriculum (CBSE, NCERT, and state boards)?
  • Does the AI enhance learning outcomes or just automate tasks?
  • Is the app usable offline or in low-bandwidth areas?
  • Are there any safety mechanisms in place for student data and usage?

We should continue focusing on strengthening digital access through tools that are already curriculum-aligned, offline-capable, and teacher-supportive. While, the focus must remain until AI in education becomes more structured and reliable.

Way Forward

As awareness grows and digital infrastructure improves, AI can absolutely transform how Indian students learn. It has the potential to make education more personalized, engaging, and effective. But for that to happen, we need to build AI thoughtfully—grounded in India’s educational needs, mindful of local challenges, and inclusive of multiple languages and learning levels.

At iDream Education, we’re actively working on integrating AI into our learning app. But our focus is very clear: the AI must be trained on both national and state curriculum frameworks and should support Indian language needs. We’re also committed to designing every AI feature we introduce to work even in offline or low-bandwidth environments—so that no learner is left behind due to location or infrastructure.

So, let’s not rush. Let’s build and adopt learning apps that genuinely address the core needs of Indian learners. Look for an AI powered learning app that prepares our students responsibly for the AI-powered future we all envision.

If you’re an educator, policymaker, program manager, fellow edtech innovator or anyone from the education ecosystem and would like to discuss how to build AI responsibly for Indian learners, we’d be happy to connect, discuss and share our approach—and learn from yours too. You may contact us at +91 7678265039 or share your details here. You can also write to us share@idreameducation.org

Give Every Child a Second Chance: Muskaan’s Journey Shows How Adaptive Learning Software Makes It Possible

Posted on by Ayushi Agarwal
Cover image showing an impact story of students after learning through adaptive learning software by iDream Education

When 9-year-old Muskaan left her hometown in Bihar, she thought she was simply following her father to a new city. But little did she know that her move to Gurgaon would mean a sudden pause in her education and an uncertain future. Like many children from families who migrate in the search of work, Muskaan faced an all-too-common disruption — the loss of school continuity, friends, and the structured learning environment she was used to.

What Happens When a Child’s Education Is Suddenly Interrupted?

Back in Bihar, Muskaan was studying in Class 4. Bright, curious, and always eager to learn, she loved going to school. But when her father moved to Gurgaon in search of work, the family had to relocate. The shift meant not only leaving behind her extended family and familiar surroundings but also her school. With no documents in hand, an incremental learning gap, and unfamiliarity with the new education system, enrolling Muskaan in a new school wasn’t easy. As days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, Muskaan’s learning came to a halt.

Just when it seemed like her education would slip away, she found the iMpower Club a learning centre near her home in Gurgaon. 

This community centre is managed by Aide et Action and run by the M3M Foundation who initiated an iMpower program with the vision of empowering migrant journeys. It is a holistic development initiative aimed at providing necessary resources to enhance the abilities of migrant workers, their children, and their families. The facilitators at the centre work to provide educational, health, and nutritional support to children of construction workers. The centre supports many children such as Muskaan and offers resources such as shared textbooks, worksheets, digital learning tools, and more. 

As soon as Muskaan arrived at the centre, the facilitators happily enrolled her at the centre.

They welcomed her warmly and gave her full access to the centre’s learning resources, just like the other students. Muskaan quickly gravitated toward the tablets from the PAL LAB setup. With gentle guidance from the facilitators, she began using iPrep PAL (adaptive learning software) for learning. It didn’t take long—just a little support—and she started using it regularly. The tablet soon became her new teacher, guide, and friend.

Through remedial video lessons, targeted practice, and level-based questions, Muskaan began to rebuild her foundational skills. Gradually, the confidence that once flickered returned, along with her natural curiosity. With the steady encouragement of the facilitators and the well-structured support of iPrep PAL, she made consistent progress. What truly made learning easier for her was the adaptive design of the software, which offers a personalized learning experience based on her current skill level.

How exactly did the Adaptive Learning Software Support Muskaan’s Learning Journey?

Teachers didn’t assume Muskaan was learning at a standard Class 4 level. Instead of placing her based on age or previous grade, PAL assessed her actual understanding through diagnostic tests for each chapter based on her last grade. Basis results, PAL guided her to foundational video lessons and remedial practice, helping her rebuild her skills and gradually reach an age-appropriate learning level. With the tablet-based PAL Lab at the centre, not just Muskaan but all students are learning joyfully—strengthening their foundational understanding and progressing steadily at their own pace.

Muskan’s PAL usage Insights from September to December 2024

While her engagement with iPrep PAL continues beyond 2024, the four-month period from September to December revealed a unique pattern. As per usage recorded on the dashboard, these months were comparatively high in overall usage, specifically in learning Science and Math on the iPrep PAL tablets. 

Graph illustrating a student’s learning progress, showing improvement with the use of adaptive learning software
  • During this time, she took the opportunity to revisit and strengthen her foundational understanding. For subjects such as Science, Math and English Grammar, she proactively went back as far as Class 2 level concepts—addressing historical learning gaps with commitment. She achieved 100% mastery in foundational topics such as Sentences, Alphabets, पौधों में जनन (Reproduction in Plants), सजीवों की विशेषताएं (Characteristics of Living Beings), कितने वर्ग? (How Many Squares? and many more.
  • Two key resources she leaned on were video lessons and practice modules. In total, she spent an impressive 92 days, 14 hours—equivalent to approximately 2,222 hours—on video lessons alone. Additionally, she dedicated around 7.03 hours to practice exercises. This clear focus on concept clarity and reinforcement demonstrated not only her interest but also her intrinsic motivation to learn and bridge her gaps through iPrep PAL.

Our on-ground team and facilitators at the learning club were deeply inspired by her dedication. Watching her take ownership of her learning journey.

From Learning centre to Enrollment in Formal School of Gurguram

After a year of consistent learning at the centre, Muskaan was ready and got enrolled in a formal school. Admission into formal education demands proactive behaviour and confidence in one’s learning—and Muskaan had both. She had successfully bridged her learning gaps and reached the age-appropriate competency level needed for entry into Class 5.

Muskan is Continuing the Learning Journey After School with Learning Centre

Even though Muskaan is now back in school, her association with the learning centre continues. After school hours, she still walks to the centre to revise, practice, and explore new concepts using iPrep PAL. She extends into the evening with the same enthusiasm and personalization that helped her restart her educational journey.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the M3M Foundation for their unwavering commitment to empowering marginalized communities through education. Their iMpower programme has been instrumental in providing holistic development opportunities for children of migrant workers, daily wage earners, and other underserved groups. By establishing iMpower Clubs across various regions, they offer essential resources such as early childhood education, after-school support, health check-ups, and digital literacy training. These initiatives have significantly contributed to bridging educational gaps and fostering inclusive growth.

What If Every Child Had This Opportunity? Muskaan’s journey raises a powerful question:

Children across India, particularly those from migrant families or under-resourced communities, often fall through the cracks of the traditional education system. Lack of awareness, relocations, and personal circumstances derail their learning. But what if these children had access to a learning platform that could bridge their gaps and empower them to continue learning with confidence? 

That’s exactly why we designed the PAL, an adaptive learning software

  • No child should be left behind just because they missed school for a few months.
  • With PAL, learning adapts to the child’s current level—not just their age or grade.
  • It identifies gaps and addresses them through focused remedial content.
  • And most importantly, it makes re-entry into formal education

Let’s work towards a world where every child, such as Muskaan, gets a second chance—and truly makes the most of it. We’d be happy to showcase our PAL, an adaptive learning software, its intuitive design and mechanism that empowers students to bridge their learning gaps and reach age-appropriate levels, all without judgment. Additionally, we’ll guide you on implementing this solution in a cost-effective, long-term, and sustainable way for community or school-based programs. For more information, you may contact us at +91 7678265039 or share your details here. You can also write to us at share@idreameducation.org.

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