Education
Read about our work
Our work in the area of education furthers the national mission for education and literacy by promoting positive learning outcomes for students. To reduce inequities in learning environments, we have been supporting schools in communities around Cipla manufacturing units as well as strengthening government institutions for higher education in the country. In Covid, we have been supporting innovative virtual education initiatives for students and building capacity of teachers to use e-learning tools.
LEARNING IN THE LOCKDOWN
Students and teachers have been grappling with schools being closed since March 2020. Those in remote areas are facing the biggest brunt of the crisis.
We have been unlocking the potential of a post-Covid way of learning for students and teachers by building digital infrastructure, providing technology assistance and enabling access to virtual mediums of learning.
A survey* among 2,800 students from government and government-aided schools revealed:
- On average, only one in every two students has the opportunity to learn online.
- The challenges cited were lack of access to devices, poor internet connectivity, power supply fluctuations and discomfort among teachers to conduct digital sessions.
D-LEAD : DIGITAL LEARNING EXCELLENCE AND DEVELOPMENT
Making Online Learning Possible – Anywhere, Anytime!
Our D-LEAD initiative strives to give a seamless digital learning experience to students, especially to those in remote communities.
As part of this project, digital tablets (pre-loaded with content in regional languages for class 9 and 10, structured to the state board curriculum) have been distributed to children from government and government-aided schools near Cipla units.
The content on the devices gets updated on a regular basis. Students are also provided battery packs for uninterrupted access. Where needed, teachers have also been provided these tablets and trained to support their students.
The initiative advances the government’s new National Education Policy emphasizing digitisation of education.
Till date, we have distributed
1,740+
Tablets across
30
Schools
in Patalganga, Kurkumbh, Indore, Bengaluru, Goa, Baddi and Sikkim.
Going forward, we plan to expand the programme by providing an additional 3,500 tablets across 66 schools
Bridging The Digital Divide
Ashish Kumar
Class 10 student from Patalganga
Aneera Subba
Class 9 student from Sikkim
Connected And Learning
LEARNING BEYOND CLASSROOMS
Mobile Science Labs
Since April 2020, the Mobile Science Lab (MSL), a school-based interactive learning programme, has been connecting with students digitally through engaging virtual sessions and information shared via WhatsApp messages.
In addition to science, students are learning concepts in math, computers, art and literature from their home.
From April 2020 – June 2021, the eight MSLs we support near Cipla manufacturing units have conducted:
3,44,000 Virtual interactions at
115 Schools, across
100 Villages, in
8 Districts
Mobile Science Lab, run by Agastya International Foundation, takes 100+ science models to students in government run and aided schools. Trained MSL instructors conduct hands-on grade relevant science sessions for students and enable teachers to enhance the learning experience of their students. We have been supporting the programme since 2015 across Cipla manufacturing units.
WhatsApp Based Learning
Himachal Pradesh
The platform is designed to supplement learning for students. It collects data insights and provides easy-to-read, real-time impact dashboards to both teachers and administrators. This also helps to continuously improve the learning pedagogy.
40,000+
Students from grade 1st – 10th
in government and aided schools are receiving formative assessments and personalised home-learning on a weekly basis.
Taking Libraries Into Communities
Goa
When the lockdown disallowed school library sessions, our Library-In-Schools initiative in Goa found innovative ways to take books to children to continue the joy of reading.
Teachers created BOOK BOXES in which books were taken from libraries into the community. Grade relevant books were then safely distributed to children at their homes.
Storytelling sessions, earlier done face-to-face, have been running virtually to keep the love for reading going.
From April 2020 – June 2021, we reached:
3,400+
Students
350+
Teachers
Through 55+ virtual storytelling sessions
Since 2016, we have been supporting the ‘Library-In-School’ (LIS) programme run by Bookworm in Goa. It provides a library experience to students in government and government-aided schools that do not have library facilities. The aim is to give children the opportunity to access quality and age-relevant reading materials.
BALVATIKAS – PRESCHOOL
Keeping children in slum communities safe and engaged
As children and teachers could not leave their homes in the lockdown, our Balvatika (preschool) classroom-based model was modified and adapted to a PEER-LED model.
11 peer leaders (older children from the community in the ages of 12-14 years) were identified, trained and assigned up to 10 children from their neighbourhood.
Sessions were done in courtyards or open spaces around slum settlements to follow Covid safety protocols.
From April 2020 – June 2021
150+
Children were part of the peer-led programme
Since 2014, with the Himalayan Social Institute, we have been supporting Balvatikas in slum communities near Cipla Baddi (Himachal Pradesh). For children in the ages of 3-6 years, this provides nutrition, education and safety in their critical formative years. The Balvatika team also partners with local administration to build positive health seeking behaviour in the community.
ANGANWADIS – CHILD CARE CENTRES
Making learning stimulating
Anganwadis are centres set up by the government as part of the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) to cater to the needs of nutrition and education in children.
Goa
We have supported the upgradation of 75 Anganwadis across Goa through technological support
This includes interactive whiteboards and tablets, books, educational videos, engaging games and worksheets. Additionally, we have upskilled teachers by running capacity building programmes to help them integrate technology-based learning into their sessions.
Building A Bright World Of Learning
Indore
In Kallibilod village, Indore district, Madhya Pradesh, we have supported the construction of two Anganwadis under ‘PROJECT BHAVAN‘. The project exemplifies collaborative community participation at its best – the land was donated by panchayat and together with the support from local administration, communities, NGO and Cipla Foundation, the Anganwadi has become a reality for children in the village.
Families
Children will benefit from this project
MERIT AWARDS
Each year, we felicitate students from government and government-aided schools who secure top ranks in class X and XII board examinations, with financial awards.
In 2021, we rolled out the initiative virtually for the first time to continue the legacy and support students in a specially tough year.
287
Students felicitated in online events across India
Merit Awards are a way of encouraging students from remote communities who achieve academic excellence in the face of socio-economic challenges. The recognition honours their grit, ambition and resilience.
“Since class 8, I wanted to win the Cipla award. But in the lockdown I thought that just like everything else, this will also get cancelled. When my Principal told me the award ceremony will be done virtually, I was thrilled. Everyone in my family attended and saw me get the prize. It made topping my board exam even more special.”
Hema Lepcha
Sikkim
Covid Cannot Lockdown The Spirit To Succeed
Students from remote communities face countless hardships to achieve academic merit. Covid made this harder. Hence, it became even more important for us to recognize and reward their success.
80+ Cipla team members stepped forward to volunteer their time to honour the Merit Award winners of 2021
Together, we will continue striving to nurture creativity, curiosity and love for learning in young minds.
* A survey conducted by Cipla Foundation in October 2020 in Patalganga, Kurkumbh, Indore and Sikkim