Podcast
E9 | Schools Cement Boy Stereotypes
This is an edited version of Rohini Nilekani in conversation with Dr. Deepa Narayan on her podcast, What’s A Man? Masculinity in India. They are joined by Akshat Singhal co-founder of Gender Lab, an organisation that runs gender awareness programs for boys, and three boys who participated in this program. * Over my years in […]
Panel
ASER 2020 Wave 1 Report Release
This is an edited version of a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Madhav Chavan and featuring Mr. Ashish Dhawan from Central Square Foundation, Rohini Nilekani from Arghyam, and Vineet Nayar from Sampark Foundation. The ASER 2020 survey is particularly important because it is not only concerned with learning outcomes, but also the process of […]
Article
In Favour of Basic Education – Betting on the bottom-up – Rohini Nilekani
Just recently, I happened to be standing outside a rather new-looking government school, high up on a scraggy hillock in Kolar district in South India. Two young boys, aged about 12, were our curious onlookers and we picked up conversations. One I knew to be a student, because he wore a school uniform, often the […]
Keynote
Emerging Challenges for Civil Society in India
A keynote speech delivered at the 25th Anniversary of Rotary club in 2008 The Indian third sector – as the non-profit sector is sometimes called, is one of the largest and certainly the most diverse in the world. There are civil society organizations in virtually every area of human endeavour, including community bee-keeping! As for […]
Interview
Juniper-Akshara tieup provides libraries to poor
Juniper Networks has committed $34,080 to Akshara Foundation over three years to fund children’s libraries and educational resource centres (ERCs). The funding, done through Juniper Networks Foundation Fund, follows an earlier grant of $7,500. In six years Akshara Foundation has worked with over 1.65 lakh children through its educational programmes at the pre-school, in-school and […]
Article
Imagine there was no illiteracy
Countries in the West have autonomous school boards that report to citizens and encourage participatory practices. Sure they have their share of problems, but at least these problems are aired and responses are required to be made. Let me start with Akshara Foundation, with which I am most familiar. Since early 2000, we have had […]