Language plays a crucial role in shaping a child’s learning journey. For students in regional medium schools, particularly those in tribal areas, English often presents a challenge, limiting their access to opportunities in higher education and employment. Recognizing this need, the Centre for Learning Resources (CLR), in collaboration with the Tribal Development Department, has implemented the “Strengthening the School Ecosystem for Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL)” program in Ashram Shalas across Pandharkawda, Kalwan, and Nashik.
This initiative integrates three key interventions to enhance English language learning in tribal schools. Enhance Your English (EYE) is focused on improving teachers’ English proficiency, We Learn English (WLE) is designed to enhance students’ language skills through interactive digital lessons, and Resourceful Classrooms aims to foster an ESL-friendly environment by providing graded children’s literature. Over the past two years, this program has made significant strides, positively impacting teachers, students, and the broader school ecosystem.
The program began with scoping visits, baseline assessments, and training sessions before launching its core interventions. Despite various challenges, the program successfully maintained momentum through remote communication and support from block-level officers. EYE is designed to improve English proficiency among teachers in regional medium schools. By equipping teachers with the necessary skills, the program ensures that they can confidently teach English to their students.
Key achievements in the past two years include baseline assessments for 161 teachers in Nashik and Kalwan POs, identifying areas for improvement. A total of 96 hours of in-person training was conducted in Nashik PO, Kalwan PO and Pandharkavda. The Net Learning Gain (NLG) results showed a significant improvement, with Kalwan PO achieving a 41% gain and Nashik PO recording a 14% gain. Teacher feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with a high Net Promoter Score (NPS).
WLE is a 100-lesson digital bridge course designed to develop students’ foundational English skills through listening, speaking, reading, and writing exercises. The program provides bilingual support, ensuring contextualized and engaging learning experiences for first-generation English learners. Major progress points include scoping visits and baseline assessments conducted in all three project locations. One-day orientation sessions were held for 197 teachers on the use of WLE in classrooms, and pen drives containing WLE Level 1 content were distributed across Nashik, Kalwan, and Pandharkawda POs.
Regular classroom monitoring has played a crucial role in tracking the progress of WLE implementation. A total of 84 school visits were conducted in Nashik and Kalwan POs, and 35 visits in Pandharkawda. The program has shown significant student engagement, with 75% of students actively participating in Nashik and Kalwan, and 70% engagement recorded in Pandharkawda. Tangible improvements have been observed, with students in participating schools now able to introduce themselves in English with greater confidence and improved pronunciation.
CLR recognizes that English learning extends beyond structured lessons. Classrooms often lack reading materials beyond textbooks, making it harder for students to develop strong literacy skills. The Resourceful Classrooms initiative aims to bridge this gap by introducing CLR’s curated children’s literature into classrooms.
From the past two years of implementation, CLR has drawn several insights that will shape the program’s future. Professional development through ongoing teacher training leads to improved instructional quality. Scaffolded learning, breaking lessons into smaller steps, helps students progress systematically. Stakeholder buy-in is essential, as the engagement of school principals and education officers plays a crucial role in the program’s success.
To ensure sustainability, teacher ownership of the program is crucial. Teachers and educators play a key role in maintaining the program’s impact, as evidenced by teachers in Kalwan PO who self-financed a television to implement the program effectively. Continuous support through regular monitoring and mentorship further helps maintain quality and enthusiasm.
Given the program’s success, there is significant potential for expansion. The We Learn English (WLE) program has received an excellent response from students and admiration from teachers and administrators. It is poised for scalability, with plans to extend its reach to all 266 Ashram Schools under five additional Project Offices in Nashik ATC in the coming academic year. Additionally, the Children’s Literature initiative will be expanded with a focus on in-depth implementation to enrich ESL environments.
Through these initiatives, the Strengthening the School Ecosystem for Teaching ESL program continues to empower tribal students and teachers with the skills and resources they need to excel in English learning. By creating an inclusive, engaging, and sustainable educational framework, CLR is making a lasting impact on tribal education in Maharashtra. For more updates on our programs and impact stories, follow CLR’s journey toward transforming education in underserved communities.