Piramal Foundation Partners with Government of Jharkhand to Improve Student Learning Outcomes in Government Schools

by Shrutee K/DNS 

Ranchi, August 09, 2018: The Government of Jharkhand’s Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEAL) hosted a consultation workshop with NGOs on ‘Transforming Education through Partnership’. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Shri. Uma Shankar Singh, State Project Director, Government of Jharkhand and Manmohan Singh from Piramal Foundation to work together for improving student learning outcomes in Government Schools in Pakur and Sahibganj for four years.

Shri. Raghubar Das, Hon Chief Minister of Jharkhand mentioned that the state has made tremendous progress in improving infrastructure and providing access to school education. He added, “There is a strong aspiration among the Jharkhand System to bring innovation in education through partnerships.” Smt. Neera Yadav, Hon Education Minister of Jharkhand shared that the State may upgrade Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya’s beyond class VIII to ensure that the girl child gets an opportunity to demand ‘Pehle Padhayi, Phir Bidayi’. Shri. Anil Swarup, CEO, State Development Council of Jharkhand, Shri. Sudhir Tripathi, Chief Secretary Government of Jharkhand and Shri Amrendra Pratap Singh, Principal Secretary, DoSEAL Jharkhand, are hopeful that Jharkhand would be known for its Transformation in Education System, in the forthcoming years.

Commenting on the partnership, Mr Manmohan Singh said on behalf of Piramal Foundation, “We are delighted to collaborate with the Government of Jharkhand. This will enable us to work closely with the district, state and other key agencies to improve learning by encouraging alignment and convergence among the government departments and public. Moreover, this partnership will play a critical role in developing supervisors as mentors and trainers as facilitators, and hence provide learning forums for improving Education Leadership.

In March 2018, NITI Aayog and Piramal Foundation signed a Statement of Intent to improve Education, Health and Nutrition for transforming 25 Aspirational Districts across 7 states in India. Piramal Foundation will support the State Government and District Administration of Jharkhand, through multiple customized interventions, within the government schools in Pakur and Sahibganj.

About Piramal Foundation: Piramal Foundation is a Section 8 company that develops innovative solutions to resolve issues that are critical roadblocks towards unlocking India's economic potential. The Piramal Group's core values of Knowledge, Action Care and Impact guide the organisation in carrying out its responsibilities towards society. It believes that considerable positive change can occur when we collaborate with like-minded partners and nurture projects that are scalable, ensuring a long-term impact. In line with the Strategic Development Goals, the Piramal Foundation is focused on universal primary education, empowering women, reducing child mortality rates, improving maternal health and improving access to safe drinking water.

Recently, Piramal Foundation partnered with NITI Aayog to transform 25 aspirational districts across 7 states in India. The Foundation currently works across 21 states and has impacted over 90 million lives, mostly in partnership with state governments. It has developed innovative approaches and programs in every vertical and has built strong partnerships with governments, technology partners and international organisations, including with Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, Harvard Graduate School of Education and World Diabetes Foundation. The projects are implemented through Piramal Swasthya, Piramal Sarvajal and Piramal Foundation for Education Leadership.