Educate 32000 underserved children in India

Mid Year Assessment Results

This academic year, our aim was to continue to make strides in bridging learning gaps and set every Student up for success. To fuel this journey, we set ambitious goals for all Students on our in-house metric to measure Students' holistic progress in their leadership journey - Student vision scale (SVS). To gauge progress, Teach For India (TFI) Fellows conducted detailed mid-year diagnostic assessments in October and November 2023. These assessments evaluated the academic performance of all our students in grades 1-8. 

The goal of our Reading Comprehension instruction is to help Students develop the knowledge, skills, and mindsets to become competent in English. Following the disruptions of the pandemic years, we are empowering Students to not only bridge the gap but also slowly and steadily soar beyond pre-pandemic benchmarks. 59% of Students across all grades have shown reading gains. We're actively refining our instructional approach and upskilling our Fellows to continue this positive trajectory to ensure that all of our Students show reading gains this year and lay a strong foundation for them to reach their full potential as confident and proficient readers. Presently, 50% of our Students are able to comprehend texts at their grade level or just below that. 28% have demonstrated proficiency in reading at their designated grade level.

We believe that training students to become adept users of mathematics and appreciate its usefulness is paramount for the future. On the math front, we're striving for 100% of Students to pass grade-level assessments by year-end. We're already on track, with 71% of students successfully passing the grade-level mathematics assessment, currently designed by a third party to assess their ability to apply the mathematical concepts. Moreover, 30% of Students exceeded expectations by scoring above 60% on the assessment. We're committed to continuing this momentum, ensuring that every TFI Student is equipped with the skills and confidence to thrive academically and beyond.

On the Leadership Journey

• A successful partnership unfolded in Chennai as the American International School Chennai (AISC), in collaboration with TFI and the Corporation of Chennai, conducted a 6-month program to familiarize and train Students from government schools in Model United Nations (MUN). Under this initiative, 20-25 Students from TFI classrooms received MUN training from AISC faculty. Seven TFI Students also participated in the prestigious 3-day Chennai MUN, joining counterparts from CBSE, IB, and IGCSE schools across the city.
• The Government Relations Vertical launched the Civic Professional Track, a dedicated learning program for our alumni working in the social sector or seeking growth opportunities in Governance, Policy, and Advocacy roles. Out of around 60 applications from across the country, 28 applicants spanning 2011 to the 2019 TFI cohorts were selected. This year, the track aims to cultivate knowledge, skills, and mindsets related to governance for the chosen 28 individuals.

Teach For India Fellow Voices and Testimonials

My name is Aishwarya, and I'm a curiosity-driven Sociologist. I hold a Master's degree in Sociology and have also passed the NET and GATE in Sociology.  I am passionate about many things including; teaching, listening to music, dancing, travelling, and learning new languages. In order to pursue my interests, I have worked and volunteered with numerous organisations aimed at bridging inequality.Few among them are Team Everest, Auxohub, Dhan Education Foundation etc. In terms of qualities, I'm inclined to empathy and am receptive of different points of view. I am looking forward to new opportunities that will enable me to make the world a better place. 

I’m fascinated by the mechanisms of the society we live in. I believe in the concept of equity over equality, especially in the social sector. My guiding principle is to work towards the betterment of the underprivileged. I was exploring opportunities to inculcate it in actions. 

That’s when I came across the Fellowship offered by Teach for India. It was different from other Fellowships as it envisioned moulding an individual into a leader and narrowed down the line of difference between a leader and a teacher. The holistic aspect of development of self and others was the crux of growth I was looking forward to. And lastly and most importantly, ‘children’ -  the seeds that we germinate today that lead the way to a deep rooted forest tomorrow.  

My present class has 37 pupils in Grade Six. My Students present a diverse range of educational experiences and difficulties. So, keeping their differences in mind, I designed a Culture plan inspired by the film "Lion King" and nicknamed the class "Hakuna Matata." The theme emphasised the virtues of Courage, Collaboration, Resilience, and Excellence, which I have worked to foster in my kids since the first day. I intend to have all kids reach a reading level 2 in English by the end of the following academic year.When it comes to my Students, I prioritise growth over achievement. I intend to create an approachable and judgment-free classroom environment in which all ideas are acknowledged and respected without bias.

The first day in my classroom was a blend of emotions, I experienced both nervousness and excitement. The entire atmosphere was new and welcoming.. It is my natural empathy that has enabled me to understand  each Student and his/her individual background. The motivation to work for each of their betterment is the driving force that keeps me going. Their eagerness to learn new things reminds me of my responsibility to serve them to the best of my ability. 

- Aishwarya

Cohort of 2023