SVM Monthly Newsletter- April 2024

In This Issue

STEM Innovation Hub – Whats New? | Introducing New Education Partner for Foundational Learning | Ginger Farmers Engage in Land Preparation | Blog: Foundational Literacy and Numeracy

Dear Friends & Supporters,

We are faced with some education statistics, that propels us into determined action at SVM. According to 2022 ASER report, 80% of Standard 3 students cannot read a basic Standard 2 text and 82% cannot struggle with simple subtraction.

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our first Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) project in collaboration with the Government of Meghalaya and our partners, The Madhi Foundation. This initiative aims to provide quality education to underserved communities, with a pilot in 100 schools benefiting 6400 children and empowering them with the skills they need to succeed.

Additionally, we are proud to share updates on our Innovation Hubs, which have been thriving for over a year now. They have been praised by educators and the community as vibrant spaces for creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving, driving positive change in our communities.

Thank you for your continued support and belief as we share more about our mission, our projects in rural development, the innovations deployed, and the impact of our work. Together, we can create a brighter future for all.

Smart Village Movement Team India & USA

If you are a company, NGO, or solution provider that would like to participate in pilots, or if your firm’s CSR objectives align with our work in socio-economic development, we’d love to hear from you! Please connect with our Director of Communications: anna@smartvillagemovement.org

The students love the STEM Innovation Hub more than any activity in the school. One of the students. Seema Baraiya said: “The AI study was fascinating; I fully enjoyed and learned many things. I miss the lab on all school holidays! ” Another student, Yash Rathwa, said: “I found true hobbies & my passion in the Innovation Hub.” The school principal, Dr. Yogesh Singh, said: “Our students are thrilled and excited about the Innovation Hub. They love to learn by making and creating things on their own in the lab.”

Nearly a year since piloting STEM Innovation Hubs in collaboration with Curiosity Gym, this initiative, made possible by SVM supporters, has impacted approximately 1400 students across two schools in Meghalaya and two in Gujarat. Students’ genuine interest in STEM subjects and their enthusiasm for creating scientific projects, including 3D printing, robotics, Arduino, circuit designing, and more, have been truly inspiring. In Gujarat, according to Curiosity Gym’s Report, all survey respondents unanimously reported that these activities have heightened students’ enthusiasm for learning science and mathematics subjects. The program facilitated collaborative projects, discussions, and activities, fostering effective teamwork and coordination. Moreover, teachers noted significant improvements in their students’ creativity skills, attributing this progress to the program’s environment, which encourages innovation and unconventional thinking. Reflecting on this progress fills us with optimism and determination to expand this impact even further in the coming year.

In today’s fast-paced world, foundational learning lays the groundwork for a successful educational journey. Yet, many children across India face challenges in these fundamental skills. According to a World Bank study, over half of children under 10 struggle with basic reading. Reading fluently and performing critical arithmetic operations is essential for a Std 3 child. Still, ASER 2022 reveals alarming statistics: 80% of Std 3 students cannot read a Std 2 level text, while 82% struggle with subtraction.

Smart Village Movement recognizes the urgency of addressing this crisis. To tackle the challenge head-on, we’re partnering with Madhi Foundation, a renowned non-profit organization based in Chennai, to launch Madhi’s Foundational Learning Improvement Programme (FLIP) in 100 primary government schools in the East Garo Hill district of Meghalaya. Madhi supports the public school system, and works closely with the education ecosystem to address educational inequity. Established in 2016, Madhi has expanded its reach from 3 schools to an impressive 37,000 across Tamil Nadu by 2021. Their comprehensive model prioritizes the last-mile child, ensuring that all program design decisions revolve around their needs.Read More

As we approach the ginger sowing season, farmers in Ribhoi district actively engage in land preparation activities. ( From Drone Crop Monitoring Project in Meghalaya with BharatRohan)

Education is the cornerstone of a nation’s progress, and in India, the focus on foundational literacy and numeracy has gained significant attention in recent years, particularly in rural areas. Foundational literacy encompasses the fundamental skills and knowledge children need to acquire early in their education journey, including basic reading abilities such as phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension. Numeracy, a key component of foundational literacy, refers to understanding and working with numbers effectively. According to a study by the World Bank, over half (56.1%) of children aged under 10 are facing difficulties in reading basic text. ASER research also indicates notable deficiencies in both reading and fundamental arithmetic skills, such as subtraction. These shortcomings in foundational learning are evident in the declining performance on National Achievement Surveys (NAS) in 2021 as students progress to higher grades, with average math scores dropping from 61.2% in Class 3 to 56.8%, 51%, and 44% in Grades 5, 8, and 10 respectively. Recognizing the urgency, the National Education Policy (NEP) of 2020 has prioritized foundational learning and introduced the NIPUN Bharat initiative with the aim of achieving 100% foundational literacy and numeracy skills for Grade 3 students by 2027. Read More

To learn more about all our projects, please visit our Website or our SVM Annual Magazine and join our SVM Platform

SVM is a nonprofit with 80(G) certification and is also registered as a 501(c)(3) organization. The tax-deductible contributions go directly to fund rural development and empowerment of village livelihoods in pilot areas.

What is the SVM Platform?

The Smart Village Movement platform provides a digital platform for Governments, Educational Institutions, Business Organizations, and Village Entrepreneurs to come together in a collaborative effort to find innovative solutions in rural communities and build ‘Smart Villages’.

Please sign up and access our platform engage with our movement and help us with creative & innovative solutions. Together we are all ‘smarter’.

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