7 years old Anshika, a class 2 student, interacts with her friend while she helps her in studying during a classroom session at a govt. primary school at Judiyan in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, March 2025.
Anshika says, "When I first started school, I found it hard to understand letters and words. I used to get confused and felt a little scared. But then, my teacher Namrata ma’am helped me. She is very kind and patient—she always helps me when I get stuck. Now, I can write many words, read lots of poems, and even create small stories on my own! Ma’am makes learning fun. She tells us jokes, makes us sing and dance in class—and that’s my favourite part. Because of her, school feels like a happy place. I also like helping my friends when they need support, and we enjoy studying together. In the mornings, we do yoga on the ground before classes begin. It makes us feel fresh and ready to learn. At home, my parents sometimes help me study, but I learn most of the things in school. My mother feels really proud when she visits school and hears good things about me from my teacher. I love coming to school—not just to study hard, but also to be with my friends and learn new things together every day."
CSF/India/Srishti Bhardwaj
India’s Progress Engine: The Groundwork Behind NIPUN Bharat Mission
This article highlights how the NIPUN Bharat Mission is powering India’s foundational learning reform, with strong momentum across states. It captures CSF’s role in strengthening classroom instruction, teaching-learning materials, assessments and community engagement — showing how empowered teachers, local leadership and effective implementation are driving real improvements in student learning.
