Addressing Learning Gap for Quality Education (ALGQE)

The “Addressing Learning Gap for Quality Education in Assam” (ALGQE) project is an initiative undertaken by Aide Et Action in collaboration with Child Aid Network. Launched in October 2024, the project aims to bridge critical gaps in foundational literacy, numeracy, and STEM education among children in government schools across four districts of Assam—Baksa, Dhemaji, Nalbari, and Lakhimpur.

Assam’s education landscape faces a multitude of challenges, including low literacy and numeracy rates, high dropout rates, inadequate STEM education, and a lack of effective teaching methodologies. According to the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER), foundational learning gaps are prevalent, particularly among marginalized communities. The ALGQE project is designed as a targeted intervention to address these persistent issues and create a sustainable educational model that can be replicated across other districts.

This initiative focuses on empowering children from vulnerable and marginalized communities, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, tea garden workers, and Adivasi populations. It seeks to enhance educational outcomes and contribute to breaking the intergenerational cycles of poverty and exclusion that persist in these regions. The project aligns with India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and Assam’s education reforms, such as the Gunotsav initiative which aims to evaluate and improve school performance.

By adopting a systemic and sustainable approach, the ALGQE project integrates innovative methodologies, including experiential learning, digital tools, and community-driven solutions, to foster a transformative educational environment. The selected districts were chosen based on key indicators such as poor academic performance, socio-economic vulnerabilities, and the presence of marginalized populations. The long-term vision of the project is to establish a replicable model that strengthens foundational learning, builds teacher capacity, and fosters an inclusive and equitable education system.

  • Inadequate teacher training.
  • Limited use of teaching and learning materials.
  • Inactive School Management Committees (SMCs)/School Management Development Committees and Mother Groups (MGs).
  • Lack of support to the District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs).
  • Inactive District and Block Academic Core Groups (DACG) and Block Academic Core Groups (BACG).

Main Objective:
32,000 students from government schools in 4 districts of Assam benefit from age-appropriate, quality education and sustainable systems for
improved learning outcomes for all students in the 4 districts.

Sub-Objectives

  • Teachers in 320+ schools in 4 districts of Assam are empowered to deliver quality education.
    • Modernisation of the Central Knowledge Hub.
    • Identification of clusters and collection of basic data.
    • Development of content for teaching and learning materials.
    • Development of a pool of resource teachers.
    • Training of Trainers (ToT).
    • Analysing the training needs of teachers.
    • Further training for teachers.
    • Design and development of an e-learning platform.
    • Recognising and honouring teachers.
    • Capacity building of the Cluster Education Facilitators.
    • Establishment of ICLHs at cluster level.
    • Demo lessons for children in the ICLHs.
  • Parents and communities in at least 320 villages in four districts in Assam are actively engaged in improving the education of their children.
    • Raising awareness among local communities.
    • Strengthening school management committees (SMCs) and setting up model SMCs.
    • Strengthening and setting up model Mothers groups (MGs).
    • Workshops for the creation of school development plans.
    • Recognising and honouring SMCs and MGs.
  • The education authorities in 4 districts of Assam are enabled to promote quality education in 320 and more schools.
    • Consultations to exchange findings from the previous project.
    • Workshop at the start of the project.
    • Annual reflection and planning workshop at state level (Assam).
    • Consultation on improving the mentoring of teachers.
    • Meetings with the Block Academic Core Groups (BACGs) and District Academic Core Groups (DACGs).
    • Workshop with the BACGs to develop academic block plans for school education.
    • Workshop with DACGs to review academic block schedules and incorporate them into district academic plans for school education.
    • Cluster and block level events with children, local communities and schools.
    • Regular contact with the DIETs support for resource development through academic coordinators.
    • Exposure visits by DIETs, DACGs and resource teachers.
    • Exhibit FLN and STEM teaching innovations and publish district best practice bulletins.
    • Development of STEM modules.
    • Visibility and documentation of the project.

Direct Target Groups:

  • Approx. 32,000 students from grades 4 to 10 at approx. 320 schools in rural areas in 4 districts (Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Nalbari and Baksa) respectively 32 clusters of Assam.
  • Grades 4-8 receive support in the area of foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) and grades 6-10 in the area of STEM subjects (maths, IT, science and technology). The aim is to reduce learning gaps and improve the general quality of education.
  • Mediators/ multipliers:
    – approx. 960 selected teachers who will be empowered to teach effectively and in a child-friendly way.
    – 32 selected School Management Committees (SMCs) and Mothers’ Groups (MGs) empowered to act as models for other groups and to promote educational initiatives not only within their own schools but also in other schools in the region.
    – 32 Innovative and Community Learning Hubs (ICLHs) are established and strengthened to act as model ICLHs in their respective clusters.      – 32 Cluster Resource Centre Coordinators (CRCCs) building their capacity in innovative teaching and learning
    methods

Indirect Target Groups:

Through multiplier effects, the project will indirectly reach 120,400 children and around 3,000 teachers in
1,204 schools via 99 ICLHs at cluster level. It is also expected that the project will bring about changes in
teacher training beyond the districts throughout Assam.

Key Interventions

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