What is our InSchool program?

This program is intended to enhance the quality of learning in existing schools, which already have the infrastructure to operate schools but lack high quality instruction—a very common problem in developing countries. Our focus is the “critical core” of foundational learning—reading, writing and math.

We partner with existing players already operating schools and leverage their infrastructure (staff, classrooms, schools, utilities). Quite simply, we replace the existing traditional curriculum with “best-in-class” educational games for English, Math and the local language, and deliver it on user-friendly tablets. Thus, dependence on high quality teachers—already very scarce—is significantly reduced and existing teachers play a “facilitator” role. Happily, we are finding that most teachers welcome the digital learning approach and find it much easier and less stressful.

Our InSchool Program

Why are we doing it?

Far too often, the quality of learning in developing countries is very poor, with vast numbers of 6th graders students unable to perform at the 2nd and 3rd grade levels. This limits their economic prospects, their contributions to national economies, and their ability to participate in an increasingly global labor marketplace. It also badly sub-optimizes the major investments that poor countries have made to build and operate schools. Consider Pakistan: 32 million children in existing schools underperform, with over 40% of 5th graders unable to operate at the 2nd grade level. This is a massive waste; the story is similar in most of the developing world.

Results have been excellent. As measured by third -party evaluators, our students outperform those learning from the traditional approach by 1.5 – 3x. Major additional benefits include accelerated learning, a spirit of self-learning, and lower teacher stress. See our proof of concept results.

Where we are today

While our major focus is out-of-school children, we have programs with existing schools in all of the 3 countries in which we currently operate—Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malawi. All perform extremely well, with very similar results. Each of our partners wishes to expand; however, they are all non-profits with the classic non-profit constraint: the ability to fund it. For each of them, the additional investment in tablets and solar power is the main challenge.

We believe this program has immense potential to enhance the quality of education in developing countries. In the coming years, we plan to work with our existing partners to raise funds for expansion. For example, our key partners in Pakistan - CARE Foundation and Sindh Education Foundation - can potentially expand to 300’000 students, subject to funding. As we solve the fundraising challenge, we plan to expand the program to as many strong partners as possible.