The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
MUMBAI, JANUARY 24, 2024
Private sector leaders and representatives from civil society have joined forces to launch LiftEd (Learning and Innovation in FLN to Transform Education), a groundbreaking initiative aimed at impacting the lives of 4 million children in India over the next five years. Launched on the International Day of Education, this collaborative effort supports the Government of India’s NIPUN Bharat Mission, focusing on foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) as a crucial aspect of the learning journey.
The NIPUN Bharat Mission, initiated by the Government of India in 2021, aims to equip every child aged 4-10 with FLN skills by 2026-27. In alignment with this mission, LiftEd brings together a diverse coalition of partners to strengthen India’s education ecosystem and enhance the potential of young learners, with a commitment to raising up to USD 20 million (INR 166 crore).
Founding partners include Atlassian Foundation, Bridges Outcomes Partnerships, British Asian Trust, the Maitri Trust, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, Reliance Foundation, Standard Chartered Bank, UBS Optimus Foundation, and USAID. The British Asian Trust leads the program, while Central Square Foundation and Dalberg Advisors serve as design and technical partners.
LiftEd’s ambition over the next five years is to reinforce the foundational learning skills of public school children in grades 1-3 across five geographies (Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi NCR, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar). This involves on-ground interventions, collaborating with state governments and school facilitators, and a home-based approach through the newly launched EdTech Accelerator.
LiftEd’s on-ground education partners, including Kaivalya Education Foundation, Language and Learning Foundation, Peepul, and Pratham Education Foundation, collaborate with stakeholders to implement a ‘systems change’ approach. This involves training block and district officers, school principals, and teachers to create a ripple effect reaching several batches of students.
Simultaneously, LiftEd has launched an EdTech Accelerator to develop digital solutions for low-income students in India. Eight innovative partners have been chosen to be a part of the EdTech Accelerator, working towards developing high-quality and contextually relevant solutions with dedicated support in the form of mentorship, capacity-building workshops, and funding.
