Building Strong Foundations for Learning in East Garo Hills

The Foundational Learning Improvement Programme (FLIP) is a flagship initiative designed to strengthen Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) among early-grade learners. In East Garo Hills District, Smart Village Movement (SVM), in collaboration with the Madhi Foundation, launched a pilot across 100 schools to equip teachers with innovative strategies, tools, and methodologies that make classrooms more engaging and effective.

Since its launch, the programme has been steadily transforming classrooms. Teachers, empowered with new training and resources, are creating vibrant learning environments where children are reading with greater fluency, writing with improved clarity, and demonstrating stronger numeracy skills. Following the most recent teacher training, Term 2 books, student workbooks, and teaching-learning materials were distributed, and schools have begun actively integrating them into daily classroom practice.

Regular classroom observations by the SVM field team highlight the growing impact of the program. Teachers are receiving continuous support to strengthen their methods, while the structured learning materials are ensuring measurable improvements in learning outcomes.

The progress is well-documented through photos and videos from 11 schools, including:

• Samanda Chinemgre LP School
• Bansam Bibragre LPS (Samanda CRC)
• Upper Rongreng Baiza LPS
• Nehru Memorial LPS (Rongrenggre CRC)
• Old Sampalgre LPS
• Chiokgre LPS (Rongongre CRC)
• Jongmegre LPS (Gitokgre CRC)
• Dilma Ampanggre
• Dilma Kawak LPS (Dilma Chiading CRC)
• Old Rangmalgre LPS (New Rangmalgre CRC)
• Dawa Nengkatok LPS (Dawagre CRC)

Through FLIP, children in East Garo Hills are gaining stronger learning foundations that will shape their educational journey. With continued collaboration between teachers, communities, and partners, this initiative is paving the way for a brighter future for every child.

(The Term 2 training under the Foundational Learning Improvement Program (FLIP) was held from 30th July to 1st August 2025. On the first day, 82 out of 98 teachers attended, followed by 81 teachers on the second day. The third day was dedicated to Cluster Resource Coordinators (CRCs), where 12 out of 14 CRCs, along with Block Resource Persons (BRPs), participated.

The training focused on strengthening teacher capacity in literacy and numeracy for multigrade and multilevel classrooms, building on the foundation of Term 1. Core pedagogical strategies included the Before–During–After (BDA) comprehension strategy, the Place Value Chart to develop number sense, Classroom Management Strategies (CMS), and the Gradual Release of Responsibility (GRR) model. Teachers participated with enthusiasm and confidence, actively engaging in peer learning and utilizing program resources, such as the Teacher Handbook (THB) and Student Workbook (SWB), more effectively. For CRCs, the sessions emphasized classroom observations and constructive feedback. While CRCs clearly understand their roles, they require more guided practice to ensure feedback is delivered respectfully, consistently, and with actionable insights. Overall, the training strengthened teacher and CRC engagement and skills but also highlighted the need for sustained, need-based support, peer collaboration, and continuous coaching to translate conceptual learning into effective classroom practices and achieve the program’s goal of foundational learning for all children.)