Millions of children in India start school without the basics they need to learn. Despite strong policy commitments to foundational learning, many children fall behind in the earliest grades. Only 23% of children starting Grade 3 can read a simple Grade 2 level story, and just 34% can do Grade 2 level subtraction. Many are taught by rote, and children from tribal and minority communities often struggle because lessons aren't in their home language. These early gaps rarely close on their own.

Pratham works directly in Grade 1-2 classrooms across 9 states, teaching language, maths, and English while building parent engagement and training local teams. Language lessons are grounded in children's home languages, shown to boost outcomes especially for tribal children. Maths is taught through games and play rather than rote drills. English is introduced gently alongside, not instead of, home languages, with teachers closely involved so new methods take root in everyday practice.