About us
Pratham is an innovative learning organization created to improve the quality of education in India. Established in 1995 to provide education to children in the slums of Mumbai, Pratham has grown in both scope and scale, with programs today reaching children and youth across the country.
As one of the largest non-governmental organizations in the country, Pratham focuses on high-quality, low-cost and replicable interventions to address gaps in the education system. Working directly with children and youth as well as through large-scale collaborations with government systems, Pratham programs reach millions of lives every year. Pratham’s Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) approach has demonstrated proven impact on children’s learning outcomes and is now being adapted to contexts outside India.
Our Programs
Education
From Early Childhood Education to Elementary Education, Pratham identifies education-related gaps and opportunities in each segment and develops context-based solutions. We collaborate with children, schools, families, and communities through direct programs and government partnerships.
Reach 2023-24
KC Widget Content
Activities in
states &
union territories
Children reached
through direct programs and
government partnerships
Girls and women reached
through mothers' groups and
other programs
Youth reached
through vocational/non-
vocational courses
Stories Of Change
Step into the heart of Pratham’s mission through our Stories of Change—a collection of real-life journeys that showcase the resilience, determination, and hope of those we serve. From children building strong learning foundations to women and youth rewriting their futures, these stories highlight the transformative power of education and skills. Explore how, together with our communities and partners, we’re creating lasting impact, one story at a time.
Bhavani
A mother in Andhra Pradesh discovers her potential, becoming an inspiration to her community.
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Baijayanti Sahu
The 38-year-old mother of four clears Grade 10 through Pratham's Second Chance program, inspiring her village.
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Rahul Mal
The children’s club helps the 12-year-old overcome his fear of studies and improve his reading and math skills.
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Savitri Bai
Mother and daughter studied together and cleared Grade 10 exams with first division.
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Sohan Lal
With Pratham’s help, 70-year-old man learns how to use smartphone to help grandchildren’s education.
Read MoreWhat’s New
Pratham CEO Rukmini Banerji Featured in Outlook Business Changemakers 2024 List
What started as a local initiative in India has now shaped learning outcomes across multiple continents.
तीन शिक्षा आयोग और चार नीतियां भी नहीं दिला सकीं प्राथमिक शिक्षा को ‘ए’ ग्रेड
पहली कक्षा में दाखिले के लिए उम्र की सीमा पर सख्ती से अमल होना चाहिए। नई शिक्षा नीति में 5 से 6 साल के बच्चों के लिए 'बाल वाटिका' का प्रावधान किया गया है। यह बहुत ही महत्वपूर्ण कदम है जो बच्चों को औपचारिक शिक्षा के लिए तैयार करेगा।
The Role of Bridge-Builders in Global Policy Reform
From Mumbai to millions of children across Africa, Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) demonstrates how innovative teaching methods can transform learning.
Dr. Rukmini Banerji on Achieving Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Goals
Dr. Rukmini Banerji, CEO of Pratham Education Foundation, recently appeared on Sansad TV to discuss the goals of the National Education Policy 2020 and the NIPUN Bharat Mission.
Crafting Schools of the Future by Dr. Rukmini Banerji
How quickly can we change our school systems and revise our family aspirations to support new and more meaningful ways for our children to learn for school, learn for life, and learn for work?
Dr. Rukmini Banerji conferred the Doctor of Letters, honoris causa (DLitt), by Krea University
Dr. Banerji was conferred the Doctor of Letters, honoris causa (DLitt), by Krea University in recognition of her exceptional services to education and development.
The foundational learning data challenge: A civil society view from the Global South
Suman Bhattacharjea, Director (Research), ASER Centre co-wrote an article published on UNESCO 's World Education Blog. It stresses on the need for internationally comparable data on early-grade literacy and numeracy.
Rukmini Banerji co-authors blog on fighting learning crisis with World Bank's Mamta Murthi
In a new blog, Rukmini Banerji and Mamta Murthi, Vice President, Human Development, World Bank, tell us how learning poverty can be tackled using scalable interventions and community-driven initiatives.
Children’s Rights in the Asia-Pacific Region: Critical Reflections on Participation, Education, Girls’ Rights and Child Marriage
Bridging the divide between parental understandings of schooling and learning filled a missing link in children’s education and has paved the way for ongoing parental engagement in children’s education, which is overwhelmingly positive.
Dr Rukmini Banerji on learning outcomes and implementation of NEP 2020 at TEDx IIM Ahmedabad
Dr Rukmini Banerji was invited to speak at TEDx IIM Ahmedabad. In her TED talk, she emphasises on the importance of foundational learning and implementation of NEP 2020.
Dr Madhav Chavan and Dr Rukmini Banerji in a podcast series with Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies
In the two-part podcast series 'Grassroots Nation', Dr Madhav Chavan and Dr Rukmini Banerji talk about Pratham's origin, its expansion and core values
Rukmini Banerji co-authors a chapter in the Oxford Handbook of Program Design and Implementation Evaluation
The chapter outlines how Pratham went from designing methods to understand the learning crisis to developing solutions that were then used at scale across the country.
