SQEP begins with a careful look at each school’s needs by conducting a thorough School Needs Assessment whether it’s classrooms, toilets, safe drinking water, or enough teachers. Based on this, Aasraa makes a clear plan for improvements . Many schools struggle with leaking roofs, broken furniture, and overcrowding, so Aasraa steps in to provide infrastructural upgrades to repair, renovate, and build where needed. Clean, separate toilets and handwashing stations are added, along with safe water facilities. These changes create safe, welcoming spaces that encourage children to attend school regularly, stay enrolled, and learn better.

SQEP bridges the gap in government schools by placing trained educators to maintain healthy class sizes and ensure every child gets the attention they need. Outreach staff work closely with families, track attendance, and support children at risk of dropping out. Alongside this, Aasraa builds the capacity of teachers and project leaders through regular training in modern teaching methods, inclusive practices, and leadership skills. Together, these efforts create stronger, more supportive schools where children can thrive.

SQEP equips children with the tools and skills they need to thrive. We provide age-appropriate teaching-learning materials such as Jodo Gyan kits, phonics tools, and math manipulatives, to make lessons engaging and close learning gaps. We set up computer labs and provide mobile computer labs that give students access to computer-aided learning, building digital skills and confidence. To spark creativity and problem-solving, we introduce STEAM and Tinkering labs where children learn by doing and apply concepts to real-life projects. Aasraa also provides children with classes based on the SEEK approach (social, emotional and ecological knowledge) using Rangeet’s curriculum, a social enterprise. It nurtures knowledge, voice and agency around wellbeing, societal equity, ecological sustainability and digital citizenship. Together, these interventions ensure children don’t just study, they innovate and grow.

Many children enrolled in SQEP schools are first generation learners and lack support for homework or revision. Aasraa provides structured after-school remedial classes for curriculum reinforcement focussed on:

This ensures that no child is left behind, especially those who are at risk of academic failure or dropout.

Strong school-community ties are essential for sustained impact. SQEP promotes regular, well-attended PTMs to update families, gather feedback, and share resources for at-home learning. Aasraa’s project staff is an active member in the School Management Committees to improve school governance, encourage transparency, and strengthen accountability.

As a result, parent engagement has improved significantly with many schools recording over 90% attendance in PTMs and SMCs are increasingly involved in budget decisions and school improvement plans.

Looking ahead, Aasraa has introduced a similar model in Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand. We are the implementing partner of this project, in collaboration with The Education Alliance and India Glycols Limited. This adds to Aasraa’s existing SQEP (School Quality Enhancement Program) model in government schools, focuses on improving enrolment, attendance and learning outcomes by sharing of resources in remote hilly areas. It also emphasizes capacity building, infrastructure enhancements and community engagement.