Vikalp

The challenge

In India, nearly two-thirds of children cannot do basic arithmetic. More than 75% of all students are behind at least one or more grade in math. At these rates, more than half the children in Indian schools will finish primary school without having learned basic arithmetic. In many low-cost primary schools, teachers are undertrained, often working with outdated curricula.

The innovation

Vikalp works with low-cost private schools to improve learning outcomes through an experiential math curriculum, utilizing learning aids and math kits along with supporting teacher development for primary students. The company’s proprietary, integrated curriculum, which is in line with modern educational practices, engages students with different learning styles, ensuring they can visualize and grasp math concepts easily. Vikalp takes a holistic approach and builds in continuous, comprehensive evaluation into its curriculum assessment.

The impact

Since May 2015, Vikalp has partnered with 78 schools, reaching more than 20,000 students through its programs. Roughly 80 percent of Vikalp students are estimated to come from households earning less than $4 per day. After 20 months of using Vikalp’s methodology, students have shown up to 50 percent of improvement in their math test scores. Over the next five years, the company is projected to reach nearly 500 schools and serve more than 670,000 students.