Innovative learning creates new possibilities for children from underserved communities
Liz and Sunil Mehta founded Muktangan in 2003 to give children from poor families in Mumbai a high-quality education in English. They were granted permission by the municipality to take over and run seven schools close to an underserved community. The schools have students from primary school up to year ten, and all teaching is conducted entirely in English.
Muktangan’s teaching methods are based on the knowledge and skills required to succeed in the 21st century. Muktangan follows the state curriculum, however, its methods of teaching the children are activity based promoting conceptual understanding. To accomplish this, the schools have a high number of teachers, with a maximum of 15 children per teacher.
Teachers are selected from the communities where the students come from. They undergo a two-year teaching programme encompassing theoretical training and a lot of practical experience by being an assistant teacher. Today, Muktangan also provides further education for teachers at other municipal schools in Mumbai.
Social Initiative help Muktangan develop their impact measurement in order to follow the long term progress of the students.
Muktangan is helping the government to implement the national education reform by having Muktangan’s teachers also teach children in many other schools in Mumbai. The goal is for the children to really learn to read and count at a young age so that they can then benefit from their studies.
