Swipe through for a look at Diwali at Central Square Foundation (CSF).
We took some time out to celebrate together. We played games, and there were chocolates and gifts.
Most days, our teams are busy with their own work, whether that is working with governments or partners ali was a chance to sit together and talk about things other than work.
Our work is about quality school education for all children across India, and it gets done by people working together. Afternoons like this are part of how we do that.
Happy Diwali to everyone who works with us, and to your families 🪔
#Diwali #HappyDiwali #LifeAtCSF #CentralSquareFoundation
@SnehankitaBorah , @HemaniJain
We took some time out to celebrate together. We played games, and there were chocolates and gifts.
Most days, our teams are busy with their own work, whether that is working with governments or partners ali was a chance to sit together and talk about things other than work.
Our work is about quality school education for all children across India, and it gets done by people working together. Afternoons like this are part of how we do that.
Happy Diwali to everyone who works with us, and to your families 🪔
#Diwali #HappyDiwali #LifeAtCSF #CentralSquareFoundation
@SnehankitaBorah , @HemaniJain
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Parent-Teacher Meetings (PTMs) tend to centre on marks. In Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, the district set out to change that.
The Holistic Progress Card (HPC) records a child’s learning levels, attendance, strengths and the support they need. On 16 October, all 1,380 government schools arents for a Mega PTM built around it. 72,723 children and 38,944 parents took part.
It was planned as a campaign, not a one-day event. The district printed over 1 lakh HPCs, shared an explainer video with teachers, and gave every school a common agenda with 60 minutes for HPC-based dialogue.
On the day, District Magistrate (DM) @gaurangrathi , Chief Development Officer (CDO) Rameshwar Sudhakar Sabbanwar and Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA) Jitendra Gond visited schools along with block officials. In 98.3% of 303 monitoring visits, teachers were discussing learning levels with parents. The district also worked with the Chief Medical and Health Officer’s office to add a Health page to the HPC.
The real test of the HPC is whether this conversation continues after PTM day.
@Bsajhansi @CdoJhansi @Jhansi_DM @basicshiksha_up
#HolisticProgressCard #FoundationalLearning #EducationSystems #CentralSquareFoundation
The Holistic Progress Card (HPC) records a child’s learning levels, attendance, strengths and the support they need. On 16 October, all 1,380 government schools arents for a Mega PTM built around it. 72,723 children and 38,944 parents took part.
It was planned as a campaign, not a one-day event. The district printed over 1 lakh HPCs, shared an explainer video with teachers, and gave every school a common agenda with 60 minutes for HPC-based dialogue.
On the day, District Magistrate (DM) @gaurangrathi , Chief Development Officer (CDO) Rameshwar Sudhakar Sabbanwar and Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA) Jitendra Gond visited schools along with block officials. In 98.3% of 303 monitoring visits, teachers were discussing learning levels with parents. The district also worked with the Chief Medical and Health Officer’s office to add a Health page to the HPC.
The real test of the HPC is whether this conversation continues after PTM day.
@Bsajhansi @CdoJhansi @Jhansi_DM @basicshiksha_up
#HolisticProgressCard #FoundationalLearning #EducationSystems #CentralSquareFoundation
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“During elections, we train people and equip them with the necessary resources, and the process is carried out successfully. In education, too, we train teachers and provide resources, yet learning outcomes have remained largely stagnant in national surveys. The difference is we track what is happening on the ground; in education, we often fail to track what is actually happening in classrooms.”
Kumar Nishant Vivek, IAS, Director, Primary Education, Bihar, shared this at DIET Sonpur (Saran district), where he spent around 40 minutes at a training for Complex Resource Centre Coordinators (CRCCs).
Across Bihar, 8,825 CRCCs are now being trained to observe classrooms and mentor teachers, using the Classroom Observation Tool on the state’s E-Shikshakosh App.
Central Square Foundation (CSF) supported the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) in developing the training module and mentor handbook, and has observed the trainings across districts.
The real test will be whether classroom observation moves beyond routine monitoring and becomes a chance for teachers to keep learning and improving.
#Bihar #ClassroomObservation #TeacherSupport #EducationSystems #CentralSquareFoundation
@BiharEducation_
Kumar Nishant Vivek, IAS, Director, Primary Education, Bihar, shared this at DIET Sonpur (Saran district), where he spent around 40 minutes at a training for Complex Resource Centre Coordinators (CRCCs).
Across Bihar, 8,825 CRCCs are now being trained to observe classrooms and mentor teachers, using the Classroom Observation Tool on the state’s E-Shikshakosh App.
Central Square Foundation (CSF) supported the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) in developing the training module and mentor handbook, and has observed the trainings across districts.
The real test will be whether classroom observation moves beyond routine monitoring and becomes a chance for teachers to keep learning and improving.
#Bihar #ClassroomObservation #TeacherSupport #EducationSystems #CentralSquareFoundation
@BiharEducation_
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Alex Counts, author and Founder and Executive Director of the India Philanthropy Alliance, is in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi NCR and Kolkata from 2 to 5 November for conversations on philanthropy, leadership and fundraising. CSF is glad to be among the partners.
Some of the most valuable insights come from conversations with people doing the work.
Drawing on lessons from my work and writing, I’ll share perspectives on nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and the ideas explored in my three books: Changing the World Without Losing Your k for More, and Small Loans, Big Dreams. I look forward to exchanging ideas with fellow practitioners., , alongside opportunities to exchange perspectives on how collaboration can strengthen philanthropy and nonprofit initiatives across India.
I’m grateful to @prathamusa and the India Philanthropy Alliance for hosting this gathering, with Central Square Foundation as a key partner.
📅 5 November 2026 | 3:00–4:30 PM
📍 Mandarin Hall, Taj Hotel Kolkata
Copies of Changing the World Without Losing Your Mind will be available courtesy of @CSF_India.
Registration: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI…
#AlexCounts #BookTalk #Philanthropy #Microfinance #nonprofits
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Every first Tuesday of the month, teachers, Anganwadi Workers and resource persons across Uttar Pradesh log in to the Monthly Balvatika Webinar.
Central Square Foundation (CSF) facilitates the session in support of the Department of Basic Education, Uttar Pradesh. It is open to d Education (ECCE) educators, Anganwadi Workers, Pre-Primary Nodal Teachers, Academic Resource Persons (ARPs), State Resource Group (SRG) members and others who support Balvatika at the school, block, district and state levels.
Each session covers the unit currently being taught in Balvatika, along with a recap of the previous one. A post-test is shared after the webinar, and participants who answer correctly are acknowledged. The session also makes space for educators to share classroom practices that are working in their schools, so that ideas travel from one classroom to another.
In the coming three months, the webinars will:
•Look at the significance of upcoming festivals and suggest classroom activities around them
•Introduce English letters to Balvatika children
•Support the department’s School Readiness Phase 1 programme in the last month of the academic year, so that children move into Grade 1 with confidence
Good ECCE practice grows when the people doing the work learn from each other, month after month.
Watch the previous webinar here: lnkd.in/gw5AkA2n
@basicshiksha_up
#Balvatika #EarlyChildhoodEducation #ECCE #UttarPradesh #CentralSquareFoundation
Central Square Foundation (CSF) facilitates the session in support of the Department of Basic Education, Uttar Pradesh. It is open to d Education (ECCE) educators, Anganwadi Workers, Pre-Primary Nodal Teachers, Academic Resource Persons (ARPs), State Resource Group (SRG) members and others who support Balvatika at the school, block, district and state levels.
Each session covers the unit currently being taught in Balvatika, along with a recap of the previous one. A post-test is shared after the webinar, and participants who answer correctly are acknowledged. The session also makes space for educators to share classroom practices that are working in their schools, so that ideas travel from one classroom to another.
In the coming three months, the webinars will:
•Look at the significance of upcoming festivals and suggest classroom activities around them
•Introduce English letters to Balvatika children
•Support the department’s School Readiness Phase 1 programme in the last month of the academic year, so that children move into Grade 1 with confidence
Good ECCE practice grows when the people doing the work learn from each other, month after month.
Watch the previous webinar here: lnkd.in/gw5AkA2n
@basicshiksha_up
#Balvatika #EarlyChildhoodEducation #ECCE #UttarPradesh #CentralSquareFoundation
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At the Mega Parent-Teacher Meeting (PTM) on 26 September 2026, Ghaziabad formally introduced Holistic Progress Cards (HPC) across 446 schools, among the first districts in Uttar Pradesh to bring the HPC into PTM discussions.
Sh. Kumar Saurabh, Chief Development Officer, visited and spoke with students, parents and teachers about the HPC. Sh. O.P. Yadav, Basic Shiksha Adhikari, explained the HPC to parents himself and encouraged them to take a bigger part in their children's learning journeys.
On PTM day, average student attendance was 70.7% and average parent attendance reached 53.3%, a clear rise in parent participation compared to earlier PTMs. Close to 91% of parents responded "positively" or "very positively" to the HPC.
The real test of the HPC is not whether a card was printed, but whether a parent understood it and found a way to support their child's learning. The next milestone is the March cycle, when completed HPCs go home to parents, and our focus is on keeping the momentum alive and supporting schools and teachers on the last mile.
#HolisticProgressCards #Education #FLN #UttarPradesh #CentralSquareFoundation
@basicshiksha_up @ChiefGhaziabad
Sh. Kumar Saurabh, Chief Development Officer, visited and spoke with students, parents and teachers about the HPC. Sh. O.P. Yadav, Basic Shiksha Adhikari, explained the HPC to parents himself and encouraged them to take a bigger part in their children's learning journeys.
On PTM day, average student attendance was 70.7% and average parent attendance reached 53.3%, a clear rise in parent participation compared to earlier PTMs. Close to 91% of parents responded "positively" or "very positively" to the HPC.
The real test of the HPC is not whether a card was printed, but whether a parent understood it and found a way to support their child's learning. The next milestone is the March cycle, when completed HPCs go home to parents, and our focus is on keeping the momentum alive and supporting schools and teachers on the last mile.
#HolisticProgressCards #Education #FLN #UttarPradesh #CentralSquareFoundation
@basicshiksha_up @ChiefGhaziabad
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At the IBSA Symposium in Cape Town on 21 October, @Ghattamaneni represented Central Square Foundation (CSF) on a panel on partnerships, sharing a message on what effective collaboration takes. The fundamental question was looking at how partnerships can translate into coherent d ensuring better learning outcomes for children. The message was clear: “A shared framework does not mean every partner must work in the same way. It means different contributions fit together around a common direction. Teachers should experience support that makes sense as a whole. Children should experience the progress it is meant to create.”
Joining speakers from the @gatesfoundation ,Centro Lemann and the Bana Pele Orchestration Team, Suresh highlighted a fundamental principle of systems change: partnerships work best when diverse efforts align towards a shared vision.
The real test of collaboration is not how many organisations are in the room, but whether a teacher in the classroom experiences a coherent system of support. Under the theme “Strong Foundations, Shared Futures”, the symposium brought India, Brazil and South Africa together around efforts towards a proposed IBSA Network on Quality Foundational Learning.
#IBSA #FoundationalLearning #EducationSystems #CentralSquareFoundation
Joining speakers from the @gatesfoundation ,Centro Lemann and the Bana Pele Orchestration Team, Suresh highlighted a fundamental principle of systems change: partnerships work best when diverse efforts align towards a shared vision.
The real test of collaboration is not how many organisations are in the room, but whether a teacher in the classroom experiences a coherent system of support. Under the theme “Strong Foundations, Shared Futures”, the symposium brought India, Brazil and South Africa together around efforts towards a proposed IBSA Network on Quality Foundational Learning.
#IBSA #FoundationalLearning #EducationSystems #CentralSquareFoundation
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CSF is committed to #FLN for every child in India. As the #IBSA countries work to strengthen cooperation on quality foundational learning, we continue to work alongside state governments to support #FLN on the ground.
#FoundationHaiSahi
#FoundationHaiSahi
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) today participates in the India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) Technical Meeting on Quality Foundational Learning, which seeks to strengthen cooperation among the three countries to improve foundational literacy, numeracy and learning Mr Paddy Padayachee, Deputy Director-General for Business Intelligence at DBE, highlights the importance of South-South cooperation in sharing policy experiences, research and innovative approaches to addressing common educational challenges.
The meeting focuses on the proposed IBSA Network on Quality Foundational Learning, including its governance and operational modalities, a draft outcome document, potential strategic partnerships and the establishment of a technical fund to support research, innovation and implementation.
Through this collaboration, India, Brazil and South Africa aim to strengthen education systems, advance equitable access to quality foundational learning and promote sustainable solutions that benefit children across the Global South.
#IBSA #FoundationalLearning #EducationForAll
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AI Samarth, our AI literacy initiative, is now part of a course for around 80,000 government school teachers in Andhra Pradesh.
The School Education Department has directed teachers of Classes VI to VIII to complete the AI Foundations and Literacy course by the end of October, as covered by @timesofindia ( Vidya Dusi). The course pairs AI Samarth with Bodhan AI resources on lesson planning, differentiated learning materials, diagnostic assessment and student support.
What stands out to us is that completion means finishing the modules and the assessment, not just enrolling. Teachers also get live hands-on sessions to try AI tools for planning and assessment.
Read the full article here: tinyurl.com/AISamarthCSF
#AISamarth #AIinEducation #Edtech #CentralSquareFoundation
@Bodhan_AI @WSAI_IITM
The School Education Department has directed teachers of Classes VI to VIII to complete the AI Foundations and Literacy course by the end of October, as covered by @timesofindia ( Vidya Dusi). The course pairs AI Samarth with Bodhan AI resources on lesson planning, differentiated learning materials, diagnostic assessment and student support.
What stands out to us is that completion means finishing the modules and the assessment, not just enrolling. Teachers also get live hands-on sessions to try AI tools for planning and assessment.
Read the full article here: tinyurl.com/AISamarthCSF
#AISamarth #AIinEducation #Edtech #CentralSquareFoundation
@Bodhan_AI @WSAI_IITM
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23,746 students. 810 schools. A focused effort to strengthen foundational learning.
In Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, the Catch-Up Karao, NIPUN Banao Abhiyaan is bringing targeted practice into classrooms to help students in Grades 1 and 2 address learning gaps and prepare for the a Aaklan (NVA).
Launched by District Magistrate Shri Anupam Shukla on 27 September 2026, the month-long initiative follows baseline assessments of over 20,000 students and covers 23,746 students across 810 ARP-adopted schools. We are proud to support this district-wide effort in collaboration with the district administration and education teams.
As part of this effort, Central Square Foundation has helped develop weekly Hindi and Mathematics practice worksheets, contextualised for Ghazipur. Teachers facilitate one hour of daily practice in each subject, helping students strengthen their #FLN skills.
Together, these efforts demonstrate how strong administrative ownership, contextualised academic support and teacher initiative can help more children build a strong foundation for learning.
#FoundationalLearning #NIPUNBharat #Education #UttarPradesh #CentralSquareFoundation
@basicshiksha_up @AdminGhazipur @CdoGhazipu83796
In Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, the Catch-Up Karao, NIPUN Banao Abhiyaan is bringing targeted practice into classrooms to help students in Grades 1 and 2 address learning gaps and prepare for the a Aaklan (NVA).
Launched by District Magistrate Shri Anupam Shukla on 27 September 2026, the month-long initiative follows baseline assessments of over 20,000 students and covers 23,746 students across 810 ARP-adopted schools. We are proud to support this district-wide effort in collaboration with the district administration and education teams.
As part of this effort, Central Square Foundation has helped develop weekly Hindi and Mathematics practice worksheets, contextualised for Ghazipur. Teachers facilitate one hour of daily practice in each subject, helping students strengthen their #FLN skills.
Together, these efforts demonstrate how strong administrative ownership, contextualised academic support and teacher initiative can help more children build a strong foundation for learning.
#FoundationalLearning #NIPUNBharat #Education #UttarPradesh #CentralSquareFoundation
@basicshiksha_up @AdminGhazipur @CdoGhazipu83796
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#NewBlog | How can a classroom-level learning gap shape state-wide education priorities?
In this blog, The Best Policy Conversations Begin in Classrooms, Kritagya Kriti explores how CSF’s work with the district administration in Basti, Uttar Pradesh, brought student learning ions on academic support and education policy.
When an end-of-year assessment found that 60% of Grade 2 students in Basti had scored zero in Independent Writing, the finding prompted a deeper conversation about unfinished learning and how children could catch up before the gap widened.
Weeks later, Uttar Pradesh issued directions on Catch-up Shikshan, outlining measures to help children revisit foundational competencies and strengthen their learning.
The blog reflects on how classroom observations, assessment data and conversations with education officials can inform wider policy discussions, while recognising that statewide decisions involve many people and sources of evidence.
📖 Read the blog here: lnkd.in/p/gMUM_m_R
If you work in education, governance or foundational learning, this is a story worth reading.
@Basti_Bsa
#EducationPolicy #FoundationalLearning #UttarPradesh
In this blog, The Best Policy Conversations Begin in Classrooms, Kritagya Kriti explores how CSF’s work with the district administration in Basti, Uttar Pradesh, brought student learning ions on academic support and education policy.
When an end-of-year assessment found that 60% of Grade 2 students in Basti had scored zero in Independent Writing, the finding prompted a deeper conversation about unfinished learning and how children could catch up before the gap widened.
Weeks later, Uttar Pradesh issued directions on Catch-up Shikshan, outlining measures to help children revisit foundational competencies and strengthen their learning.
The blog reflects on how classroom observations, assessment data and conversations with education officials can inform wider policy discussions, while recognising that statewide decisions involve many people and sources of evidence.
📖 Read the blog here: lnkd.in/p/gMUM_m_R
If you work in education, governance or foundational learning, this is a story worth reading.
@Basti_Bsa
#EducationPolicy #FoundationalLearning #UttarPradesh
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Central Square Foundation was at the @mEducation_A Symposium last week! The symposium brings together education leaders, researchers, policymakers, donors, and more to showcase impactful innovations, exchange knowledge, and catalyze new partnerships.
On the day, Abhimanyu from Central Square Foundation was a part of two exciting sessions: 'AI & Emerging Technologies in Education' and 'Digital Literacy, EdTech & Evaluation'.
Here's a few reflections from us👉🏼
⚖️Moving from proven solutions to scale: Scaling EdTech is not just about reaching more learners, it is about translating learning gains into sustained impact through effective delivery models, implementation capacity and government partnerships.
🏗️Individual solutions to ecosystem-level change: Unlocking EdTech and AI’s potential requires more than funding promising innovations. It means backing an ecosystem, enabling innovators to develop high-quality solutions, working with governments to drive adoption, using evidence to guide scale, and addressing gaps that markets alone may not solve.
🧾Evidence of impact to evidence for action: Understanding what works, for whom and under what conditions is critical but evidence creates the greatest value when it informs real-world decisions on funding, adoption and implementation.
What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
@SecretaryMEITY
#EdTech #Education #ScalingEdTech #AIinEducation #AIforLearning #EdTechStandards #ResponsibleAI #TechForLearning #DigitalLearning #AIForIndia #CentralSquareFoundation
On the day, Abhimanyu from Central Square Foundation was a part of two exciting sessions: 'AI & Emerging Technologies in Education' and 'Digital Literacy, EdTech & Evaluation'.
Here's a few reflections from us👉🏼
⚖️Moving from proven solutions to scale: Scaling EdTech is not just about reaching more learners, it is about translating learning gains into sustained impact through effective delivery models, implementation capacity and government partnerships.
🏗️Individual solutions to ecosystem-level change: Unlocking EdTech and AI’s potential requires more than funding promising innovations. It means backing an ecosystem, enabling innovators to develop high-quality solutions, working with governments to drive adoption, using evidence to guide scale, and addressing gaps that markets alone may not solve.
🧾Evidence of impact to evidence for action: Understanding what works, for whom and under what conditions is critical but evidence creates the greatest value when it informs real-world decisions on funding, adoption and implementation.
What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
@SecretaryMEITY
#EdTech #Education #ScalingEdTech #AIinEducation #AIforLearning #EdTechStandards #ResponsibleAI #TechForLearning #DigitalLearning #AIForIndia #CentralSquareFoundation
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From learning the alphabet to confidently reading books, foundational learning can transform how children see themselves and their potential.
Rachna Rani, Head Teacher at a Government Primary School in Kurukshetra, Haryana, shares how NIPUN Haryana has changed the way children h.
Through print-rich classrooms, engaging activities, supportive teachers and stronger parent participation, the school is nurturing confident learners who are eager to explore, express themselves and take on new opportunities.
✨ Read how everyday changes in the classroom are helping children build a stronger foundation for learning and a more confident future.
🔗 Read the full story here: tinyurl.com/Rachna-Rani-St…
#VoicesFromTheGround #NIPUNHaryana #FoundationalLearning #FLN #Education
Rachna Rani, Head Teacher at a Government Primary School in Kurukshetra, Haryana, shares how NIPUN Haryana has changed the way children h.
Through print-rich classrooms, engaging activities, supportive teachers and stronger parent participation, the school is nurturing confident learners who are eager to explore, express themselves and take on new opportunities.
✨ Read how everyday changes in the classroom are helping children build a stronger foundation for learning and a more confident future.
🔗 Read the full story here: tinyurl.com/Rachna-Rani-St…
#VoicesFromTheGround #NIPUNHaryana #FoundationalLearning #FLN #Education
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What if the key to strengthening academic support isn’t creating something new, but reimagining what already exists? 💡
In Jehanabad, Bihar, an existing platform for head teachers, Guru Goshthi, was transformed from an administrative meeting into a space for academic learning, l-level support.
By building a network of 40 Resource Persons and strengthening the structure of these meetings, the district created a more distributed model of academic support across 887 government schools.
A powerful lesson in system strengthening: repurpose, don’t reinvent and build leadership from within the system, as shared by CSF's Shweta Chaubey and Suman Bharti.
Read more: tinyurl.com/Guru-Goshthi-B…
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#FoundationalLearning #NIPUNBharat #Education #SystemStrengthening #Bihar
In Jehanabad, Bihar, an existing platform for head teachers, Guru Goshthi, was transformed from an administrative meeting into a space for academic learning, l-level support.
By building a network of 40 Resource Persons and strengthening the structure of these meetings, the district created a more distributed model of academic support across 887 government schools.
A powerful lesson in system strengthening: repurpose, don’t reinvent and build leadership from within the system, as shared by CSF's Shweta Chaubey and Suman Bharti.
Read more: tinyurl.com/Guru-Goshthi-B…
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#FoundationalLearning #NIPUNBharat #Education #SystemStrengthening #Bihar
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Remembering the values that shape a better tomorrow. 🇮🇳
On Gandhi Jayanti, we reflect on the enduring values of truth, simplicity and collective action.
Education has a vital role to play in building a society where every child has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive.
As ger India, let us continue to nurture young minds and build the foundations for a better tomorrow.
Wishing everyone a meaningful Gandhi Jayanti.
#GandhiJayanti #Education #MahatmaGandhi #BuildingABetterTomorrow
On Gandhi Jayanti, we reflect on the enduring values of truth, simplicity and collective action.
Education has a vital role to play in building a society where every child has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive.
As ger India, let us continue to nurture young minds and build the foundations for a better tomorrow.
Wishing everyone a meaningful Gandhi Jayanti.
#GandhiJayanti #Education #MahatmaGandhi #BuildingABetterTomorrow
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