Himachal Pradesh

Pratham makes the most of its resources here in the “Land of Snowy Mountains” by working closely with the government. In Himachal Pradesh we’ve combined two variations on the Read India program to improve literacy rates throughout the state. In Himachal Pradesh, our unique model combines government partnership with a program to bring Pratham volunteers into government schools.

 

Our work in this state is a fine example of how Pratham’s efficient model of using ready resources and improving existing systems can maximize results over a wide area. Today, Pratham’s engaging, child-friendly methodology is helping nearly 750,000 children in the state to succeed in school.

 

Much work still needs to be done. While the state’s overall literacy rate of 77.13% is better than the national rate of 65.38%, the children’s learning levels are still low. According to our ASER 2010 study, only about half of 4th graders can read a 2nd grade text.

 

Pratham is committed to raising low learning levels in Himachal Pradesh through strong government partnerships and our growing ranks of volunteers and Pratham-trained government teachers.

 

Pratham’s primary programs in this state include:

 

This program focuses on helping children to build a strong foundation in math, science and reading. Pratham partners directly with the State Government’s, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), the Indian Government’s flagship elementary education program. Together, we develop curricula, train teachers, and monitor programs across the region. Pratham has designed math, Hindi reading, and English workbooks for children in 1st-5th grades and also distributes environmental science materials created by the state government. These workbooks help bridge the gap for students who are performing below their grade level or who can’t access the standard government curricula.

 

The goal of this program is to help boost students’ confidence in using the English language. It’s for 6th-8th graders and is offered in schools across the state through a partnership with the state.

 

Through this ten-district program, Pratham trains volunteers in Pratham’s teaching methods to enable them to support government teachers. The goal is to improve students’ performance by increasing the amount and quality of instruction students receive. In a state where paid teachers are in short supply, Pratham’s taking the initiative to mobilize and train volunteers to teach in the government schools.