Background

In India, students from Economically Weaker Section (EWS) backgrounds encounter systematic barriers for quality education. Reserved seats under the Right to Education (RTE) Act are meant to support access, but many privately-managed schools are oversubscribed and unable to provide funded seats. When these students do obtain seats and are accepted into a school, their ability to engage academically is also impeded by the fact that many EWS students do not receive parental support due to a lack of English exposure and familiarity, which negatively impacts performance. Compounding their challenge to demonstrate their potential are the high costs cited by these schools for books, uniforms, and other equipment, even where schools have intentionally taken advantage of the loophole that allows fee waivers to EWS students, gives continued attendance to limited access to other essential supplies without putting stress on the family's finances. 

NGOs are crucial for closing this education gap. There are, for instance, organizations like Pratham, which have on-the-ground programs to enroll children into schools and improve foundational skills through low-cost and scalable solutions. Their “Read India” initiative has provided millions of disadvantaged children with the opportunity to learn to read and do elementary mathematics. However, these organizations continue to face challenges like longer timeframes for funding stability, short term donor commitments, government department delays and policy disconnects between the State Office and District administration, and coordinating government schemes even where their goals may be congruent.

This makes a project like “OnBoard” vital to bring together institutions who are engaged in the crucial endeavor to save the future of millions of students to pool together resources for a long lasting impact.