Simple solutions
Setting up a mainline city school does require a huge investment, one that can easily go up to Rs. 10 million. The same cannot be said about the schools we run at the BoP. The average setup expense for one of our BoP schools is roughly Rs. 1,50,000. And so far we have opened 10 of them. This was possible through intensive research and innovation which led to a unique School in a box solution, one that enabled us to knock off a few zeroes from the 10,000,000 figure. And we did this through technology-led design and delivery, a centralised administration and co-creation with the communities we work in.
School-in-a-box
The innovation we have applied to create this model is a mix of intelligent cost-cutting and maximum use of available resources. Modular furniture for example proves to be cheaper and more durable in the long run than wooden or steel chairs and tables and can be used just about anywhere. Each BoP school is equipped with over 200 items of teaching-learning material, aggregated from the best publishers across India. Some of the other features they are geared with include:
- A library of over 100 books and CD ROMs
- National-Award winning children's films
- Musical instruments
- Over 125 games for learning mathematics
- Rudimentary games for motor skills and spatial reasoning
- Sports equipment
- Games for language development
- TV sets and DVD players
- Laptop computers with broadband connectivity
Setting up a mainline city school does require a huge investment, one that can easily go up to Rs. 10 million. The same cannot be said about the schools we run at the BoP. The average setup expense for one of our BoP schools is roughly Rs. 1,50,000. And so far we have opened 10 of them. This was possible through intensive research and innovation which led to a unique School in a box solution, one that enabled us to knock off a few zeroes from the 10,000,000 figure. And we did this through technology-led design and delivery, a centralised administration and co-creation with the communities we work in.
School-in-a-box
The innovation we have applied to create this model is a mix of intelligent cost-cutting and maximum use of available resources. Modular furniture for example proves to be cheaper and more durable in the long run than wooden or steel chairs and tables and can be used just about anywhere. Each BoP school is equipped with over 200 items of teaching-learning material, aggregated from the best publishers across India. Some of the other features they are geared with include:
- A library of over 100 books and CD ROMs
- National-Award winning children's films
- Musical instruments
- Over 125 games for learning mathematics
- Rudimentary games for motor skills and spatial reasoning
- Sports equipment
- Games for language development
- TV sets and DVD players
- Laptop computers with broadband connectivity
The use of technology
In building a sustainable, low cost education model across multiple locations, the challenge of diverse geographies can be formidable. However technology steps in as the enabler and gives every one a level playing ground. It is incorrect to assume that technology has not reached remote areas in India. Most of our schools are located in peri-urban and rural areas, where technological infrastructure has permeated over the last few years. It just needs to be harnessed in the right way.
Innovation
Our believe in the appropriate deployment of technology both for design and delivery. We use it for monitoring, mentoring and connectivity. We see technology as the essential communication backbone that allows for over-the-table interactions. Our tech-innovations involve synchronous real-time training in audio-video format - our trainers in Delhi and Hyderabad conduct English enhancement programs for mentors across the remotest locations.
All aspects of the program have been designed to ensure that records of all processes and activities, including curriculum delivery and operations, are maintained digitally. This is key to monitoring quality of delivery across a large number of locations.
Moving forward
In the coming months, we wish to deploy state-of-the-art hardware like VSAT to solve connectivity issues between remote areas and the hub. Also, we have been grappling with the question - Is there an innovative way to erect school buildings in the shortest possible time? Can a school building be modularized? Modular school buildings and how to deploy them is the next challenge on our hands. This promises to further reduce costs drastically thereby strengthening our core ideal of innovation.
Read On>>
Curriculum
Mentoring
In building a sustainable, low cost education model across multiple locations, the challenge of diverse geographies can be formidable. However technology steps in as the enabler and gives every one a level playing ground. It is incorrect to assume that technology has not reached remote areas in India. Most of our schools are located in peri-urban and rural areas, where technological infrastructure has permeated over the last few years. It just needs to be harnessed in the right way.
Innovation
Our believe in the appropriate deployment of technology both for design and delivery. We use it for monitoring, mentoring and connectivity. We see technology as the essential communication backbone that allows for over-the-table interactions. Our tech-innovations involve synchronous real-time training in audio-video format - our trainers in Delhi and Hyderabad conduct English enhancement programs for mentors across the remotest locations.
All aspects of the program have been designed to ensure that records of all processes and activities, including curriculum delivery and operations, are maintained digitally. This is key to monitoring quality of delivery across a large number of locations.
Moving forward
In the coming months, we wish to deploy state-of-the-art hardware like VSAT to solve connectivity issues between remote areas and the hub. Also, we have been grappling with the question - Is there an innovative way to erect school buildings in the shortest possible time? Can a school building be modularized? Modular school buildings and how to deploy them is the next challenge on our hands. This promises to further reduce costs drastically thereby strengthening our core ideal of innovation.
Read On>>
Curriculum
Mentoring