Page 74 - EW November 2023
P. 74

People



         Go-getting philanthropist                                         pupil interaction more engaging and
                                                                           enjoyable, a strategy devised by Anu-
                                                                           pama, also an alumna of GB Pant
                                                                           University of Agriculture & Technol-
                                                                           ogy and a qualified special educator.
                                                                             Subsequently in 2015, the founda-
                                                                           tion designed its Sampark Smart
                                                                           ShalaTM (SSS), a unique low-cost
                                                                           programme to improve children’s
                                                                           learning outcomes. The SSS kit
                                                                           comprises 16 components includ-
                                                                           ing a rechargeable audio device
                                                                           — a voice mascot named Sampark
                                                                           Didi — which delivers 112 carefully
                                                                           researched lessons. The foundation’s
                                                                           objective is to scale the programme
                                                                           to reduce the cost to $1 per child per
                                                                           year. In 2022 the foundation rolled
                                                                           out Sampark TV in 25,000 govern-
                                                                           ment schools. The duo is committed
                                                                           to invest $100 million (Rs.820 crore)
                                                                           in the foundation.
                                                                           Direct talk. “To implement SSS
                                                                           effectively, we trained teachers in the
         Nayar: enjoyable technology utilisation strategy                  SSS app Sampark TV, and activity-
                                                                           based pedagogy. Our tag line is sahi
               orporate captain turned    Gorakhpur and 68 in Chargawan dis-  kram, sahi dang (right sequence,
               philanthropist VINEET NAYAR   tricts were equipped with LED TVs   right methodology) which translates
         Cis founder-chairman of the      and maths and English learning kits.   into equipping teachers with skills
         Noida-based Sampark Foundation   History. An alumnus of GB Pant   to improve the learning outcomes
         (estb.2005), an NGO working to-  University of Agriculture & Technol-  of pupils. Moreover, we have
         wards improving learning outcomes   ogy and XLRI Jamshedpur, Nayar   deployed TV screens in classrooms
         in government primary schools in   signed up with HCL Technologies   to empower teachers to deliver
         eight states across the country. Over   in the company’s infancy in 1985,   engaging and immersive lessons,”
         the past 18 years since it was regis-  steadily rose up the ranks and was   says Nayar, who adds that there’s
         tered, the foundation has positively   appointed CEO in 2007. During his   been a dramatic decrease in dropout
         impacted 10.49 million children and   six-year term HCL’s sales rev-  rates in targeted government schools
         trained 672,000 teachers in 1.23 lakh   enue rose from Rs.16,600 crore in   after implementation of the Sampark
         government schools.              2007-08 to Rs.41,500 crore and the   programme.
           The foundation works in eight   company’s market cap from $0.7 bil-  Future plans. Enthused by the
         states — Himachal Pradesh, Utta-  lion (Rs.5,250 crore) in 2005 to $4.7   success of Sampark TV in public
         rakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana,   billion in 2013.               schools, the duo plans to extend
         Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh   In 2005, at the instance of his   it to select budget private schools.
         and Maharashtra — without levying   school teacher-mother Janak Nayar   “Initially we will deploy our
         any charge to the states or pupils.   (1936-2017), Vineet and his wife   Sampark TV programmes in 15,000
         Currently, the foundation has 800   ANUPAMA registered the Sampark   budget private schools and 50,000
         field staff who monitor and facilitate   Foundation with the objective of   government schools free-of-charge.
         its learning improvement pro-    improving education standards in   If India is to become a $5 trillion
         gramme in 123,500 schools in eight   government schools. Until 2013, the   economy by 2025, education has
         states.                          foundation funded approved projects   to move centrestage in the national
         Newspeg. In July, Yogi Adityanath,   of NGOs. But, after a thorough   political discourse, and we need to
         chief minister of Uttar Pradesh,   impact study indicated marginal   invest a lot more in the education of
         inaugurated the Sampark Smartsha-  impact, the foundation resolved to   our children and youth,” says Nayar.
         la-Smart Block programme, under   adopt a more hands-on approach    Words of wisdom indeed.
         which 58 government schools in   using technology to make teacher-                Autar Nehru (Delhi)

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