Asia Initiatives, in collaboration with the Karunodaya Foundation, is proud to announce a new initiative aimed at improving literacy and language teaching in 214 government schools across two blocks in the Gaya District, Bihar in cooperation with theEducation District Authority . This project is in response to the findings of the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) and the National Achievement Survey (NAS), which highlighted significant gaps in reading skills among students in the region.

Gaya District has 2,200 schools with approximately 14,000 teachers and 600,000 students. However, only 33% of Grade V students can read Grade II level text. To address this, the project establishes vibrant children's libraries and conducts activities to enhance students' reading skills and comprehension.

With a holistic strategy, the initiative aims to develop a mentorship system through the Cascade of Learning. Students will assist younger students in improving basic math and language skills and provide homework assistance. Mentors  earn Social Capital Credits (SoCCs) for their contributions, which can be redeemed for books for their libraries.

The project also involves training teachers on library management and SoCCs to effectively use resources via the DIKSHA, the government's online platform. Training to create better lesson plans, including the use of ChatGPT, is provided. Master trainers in each block (Gaya Sadar and Manpur) will lead and support the initiative. The project aims to increase students' reading proficiency by 20% from the baseline and foster an inclusive learning environment through library activities.