The challenge
Many Indian children couldn't read or do basic math even after years in school.
The case
Many children in Indian primary schools could not read a simple paragraph even after years of school, because lessons followed the curriculum rather than their level. The NGO Pratham developed Teaching at the Right Level: children are briefly assessed, grouped by learning level rather than grade, and taught basic reading and math with simple activities. A series of randomized evaluations in several Indian states found large gains in basic reading and arithmetic when the approach was delivered well, including by government teachers. In Uttar Pradesh, short-burst learning camps run by Pratham volunteers raised language scores by 0.70 standard deviations among all students enrolled at baseline.
Why it worked
It works because it targets the real problem, children falling behind the curriculum, with a simple, cheap method. Results depended on dedicated time and support for teachers, which is why later versions were built into the school timetable.
Sources
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