Madhi Foundation believes that the alarming, complex problem of poor foundational education can be solved when the entire ecosystem works together to place the hardest-to-reach and least privileged children at the centre of every decision. We hope for a world where excellent, equitable foundational education is a right, not a privilege, for all children. We envision a world that puts foundational learning first so every child can thrive.
While the supply of quality education needs to be strengthened, so does the demand for it, because supply flows only when demand is strong. So, while Madhi works with governments to bolster how education is conceptualised, delivered, measured and monitored, we also work closely with communities where parents and caregivers are empowered to demand quality education outcomes for their children. On the supply side, Madhi Foundation is the Chief Management Partner of the Tamil Nadu State Literacy and Numeracy Mission (Ennum Ezhuthum) – a $60 million initiative of state and national importance. Our work with the government ensures that systems and governance are robust, and that teachers and officials are primed to help every child achieve quality learning outcomes. On the demand side, Madhi works with communities in Chennai and Thiruvalavur through Communities Enabling Foundational Learning (CEFL), or Veedum Vizhippum as it is locally called. Through this project, Community Education Workers work closely with parents of primary school children to increase their awareness about primary-grade learning outcomes and to bridge the gap between school and home.
Today, our work reaches 37,000 schools of Tamil Nadu, 1 lakh (100,000) teachers, and 45,000 administrators, along with 2,000 parents. In 2024, we expanded to Meghalaya and Nagaland to collaborate with the governments of the states. Through working with governments, we strengthen the ecosystem that supports children as they learn. We hold the ecosystem and its constituent pillars – the processes that each of us builds – accountable for how well our children are learning.
In addition, Madhi conducts groundbreaking research funded by the What Works Hub for Global Education, focusing on improving teacher-mentor relationships and enhancing education quality. By developing scalable and sustainable models, Madhi strives to advance foundational learning across diverse educational landscapes in India.
