Evaluation of the Accelerated School Readiness Program in Karnataka using mixed methods
Client: Central Square Foundation (CSF)
Location: Karnataka
Background Context: The Central Square Foundation and Akshara Foundation were implementing a 40-day accelerated school readiness program in 100 schools, across 13 districts, in Karnataka. The objective of the intervention was to equip teachers with the skills, knowledge and the right mindset to enable the five to six-year-old students to be school-ready.
Objectives
CSF commissioned Development Solutions (DS) to undertake a baseline and end-line assessment at the beginning and at the end of the 40-day program. The objectives of the study were to:
- Assess change in learning outcomes and school readiness among students who have undergone the program, as compared to those who have not undergone the program.
- Understand stakeholder perspectives on the program, challenges in implementation and recommendations for scale-up.
Approach and Methodology
- Method/ Design: Mixed methods (School readiness and learning outcomes were assessed through quantitative methods while the perspectives and challenges were assessed using qualitative methods)
- Key Respondents/ Informants: School students, teachers, headmasters
- Key Areas of Inquiry: Physical Development; Socio-Emotional Development and Language and Communication skills and cognitive development of students
- Sample:
- Quantitative: 568 students for Baseline (17 schools for intervention group & 15 Control group); 615 students Endline (17 schools for intervention group & 16 for control group)
- Qualitative: Students, teachers and headmasters across 14 schools across Karnataka
Impact
The evaluation results provided initial insights suggesting that the Accelerated School Readiness Program has the potential to serve as a low-cost solution for bridging school readiness gaps in children at the beginning of the school year. These results and insights from the evaluation led to the establishment of a larger pilot project aimed at generating more rigorous evidence for the efficacy of such a program in government school contexts https://learningportal.iiep.unesco.org/en/blog/can-school-readiness-programs-work-learnings-from-karnataka-and-gujarat
Contact
17/109, Lower Ground Floor, Vikram Vihar, Lajpat Nagar IV, New Delhi – 110024