Sustainability in Action
Primary Education
ITC's education support programmes are aimed at overcoming the lack of opportunities available to the poor. ITC believes that the extensive network of government-supported schools must be made more attractive to children. It provides critical support to state-run schools to maximize enrolment and minimize dropouts.
Its initiatives include improving school buildings, constructing toilets, providing electricity connections and supplying fans and lights. ITC provides students with uniforms, satchels and books. So far, over 3,15,000 children have benefited in 11 states.
ITC has financed the establishment of Supplementary Learning Centres to help poor students cope with their lessons and improve their scholastic abilities, thereby preventing dropouts. This scheme also benefits educated local youth who serve as tutors at these centres. ITC-sponsored NGOs also conduct teacher training programmes to raise the standard of teaching in government-run primary schools. ITC helps NGOs to organize summer camps, sports and other extra-curricular activities as part of the overall development inputs for children.
To improve educational outreach, ITC supports experimental projects that are making learning more informal. A network of 482 libraries and resource centres is supported by mobile library services that spread and sustain the reading habit. 421 schools are covered under Roaming Laptops programme to foster computer literacy in schools.
