Pratham partners with Verizon India to better ‘Early Years’ education for 2000 students in Telangana

Pratham Education Foundation has partnered with Verizon India to offer ‘Early Years’ program to 25 schools in Bandlaguda, Hyderabad, Telangana.

The Early Years Program consists primarily of intervention with two age groups – Balwadi for pre-school (3 to 5 years) and Balvachan for Grades 1 & 2. The Program also encourages mothers’ involvement in enriching education in the formative years. Pratham’s "direct" program, Balwadi, entails a woman from the locality running a preschool centre in a community space or within schools. The Balwadi teachers are trained by Pratham teams and all activities conducted in the Balwadis help with developmental goals-physical, cognitive, socio-emotional, language and creative. Balvachan focuses not only on literacy & numeracy instruction for Std.1 & 2, but also on building and sustaining interest in reading and writing for their own enjoyment and communication.

Ms. Sunita Burra, Program Head Telangana, Pratham Education Foundation and Ms. Kalyani Sekar, Vice President and Managing Director, Verizon India, flagged off the ‘Early Year’s program today at Government Primary School, Ayodhyanagar, Bandlaguda Telangana. This program will provide 2000 underprivileged children fundamental learning skills in their primary school years. Speaking on the initiative, Mrs. Sunita Burra, Program Head Telangana, Pratham Education Foundation said “It is a privilege to partner with Verizon India, with the vision of supporting "Early Years" education to lay foundation for the success of children in later years of their schooling.”

Ms. Kalyani Sekar, VP & MD, Verizon India, said, “It is very fulfilling to partner with an organization augmenting the effectiveness of early schooling in India. We are confident that Pratham’s “Early Years” program will help maximize the power of basic education.”