The Atul Adhyapika project continues to transform the educational landscape in remote villages by nurturing local women educators who are committed to delivering joyful and interactive learning. Carefully selected and trained over six months, these women, known as adhyapikas, are placed in primary schools within their own communities. Their deep cultural and linguistic connection with the students enables them to address individual learning needs while fostering a nurturing environment rooted in love, care and understanding. Given the inconsistent student–teacher ratio in primary schools in tribal villages, caused by a chronic shortage of trained teachers, it is nearly impossible to cater to the individual needs of each child. Additionally, the diversity of local dialects in these remote villages often becomes a barrier to effective classroom communication and learning. Here, the adhyapikas play a crucial bridging role, as they are members of the same communities, • reached 7,756 students through 87 adhyapikas as knowledge partners, across 55 schools to spark interest in mathematics and science • conducted training sessions for 287 educators through adhyapikas • noticed a significant rise in student attendance at anganwadis • organised joy workshops across multiple centers, enhancing learning through play fluent in the local dialects, and possess an inherent understanding of the social and economic context in which the children grow up. This allows them to better interpret student behaviour, remain accessible to parents and provide a personalised, context-sensitive approach to the growth and well-being of each child. Their constant presence in the village also means they can stay in touch with the broader community and neighbourhood, offering holistic support to the child both inside and outside the classroom. Building on this foundation, the Anuja Adhyapika initiative brings joyful pre-primary education to children in local anganwadis. As part of the First 1000 Days nutrition program, 25 anuja adhyapikas received specialised training. This enabled them to support early childhood development through both educational activities and community engagement. Four students from grade 3 of Fali Primary School, Valsad district, Gujarat, were facing challenges in reading and writing, showing little interest in language activities and struggling with basic letter recognition. Despite initial efforts, they remained inattentive and disengaged during lessons. Jaya Bhoya, an adhyapika placed in that school, introduced supportive measures such as visual aids, peer learning and regular remedial sessions. Gradually, the students began recognising letters, reading simple words and showing greater involvement in class. With continuous encouragement and personalised attention, their confidence and language skills improved noticeably. 21 Atul Foundation | Annual Report 2024-25 | Atul Adhyapika improving the quality of primary education project initiated in 2017 11,747 children | 112 adhyapikas EDUCATION 20 | Education
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