Reading and Writing Improvement Program

Initiated in 1992, the Reading and Writing Improvement Program was Pragat Shikshan Sanstha’s first major outreach effort. It began after a large-scale study revealed that many Grade 3 students in government schools lacked basic literacy skills. Supported by the Ashoka Foundation, the program trained municipal and Zilla Parishad teachers in ‘Pragat Vachan Paddhati’ (Progressive reading method) developed by Dr. Maxine Berntsen. Over time, it expanded to over fifty schools, improving classroom practices, promoting child-centred learning, and influencing government policy. The program’s lasting impact lies in its integration of research, teacher training, and community involvement to strengthen foundational literacy