Right to Education is a fundamental right of every child. Despite policy and targets, the government’s track record in setting up schools is lacklustre. The number of government schools is inadequate to meet the needs of the large number of people in slums in Hyderabad. In the Film Nagar slums alone, for a population of 8000-9000 families, the existing government schools only have a capacity for 2000 children at primary level and 1500 children at high school level. The paucity of government schools, teacher and infrastructure deficits in government schools and the desire for English Medium education motivates 80% of families to enroll their children in private schools.

School enrollment is currently high - in our surveys in these slums we find that almost 100% of children are enrolled in primary school. However, government data shows that across the country only around 40% of children are completing 10 th standard. Most of Kriti’s efforts in education are to address this gap and help children at least complete schooling till class X.

Given the education landscape for the poor, we find ourselves working with both the government schools and the private schools in quite different programs.

Depiction of who is served by Kriti’s education programs  

Project Disha

Project Disha identifies the poorest of children who are at the risk of dropping out schooling and provides them with financial assistance and mentoring to ensure they complete their education.

Project Shiksha

Project Shiksha improves learning levels of children in government schools by upgrading infrastructure, appointing voluntary teachers and providing books and stationery to students.

Project Champion

Project Champion works with government schools to introduce regular sports for children to help them with their growth, develop healthy social and interpersonal behaviour and have fun!

Project Tulika

Project Tulika provides pre-school education to children in the three years to five years age group studying in government Anganwadis..

Project Kaushal

Project Kaushal focusses on setting up of a computer literacy center in the slum that will be open to all children in the area. The courses will include basics of computer usage and programming.