Transform Learning

From classrooms to systems to unlock secondary education as a societal minimum.

Millions of Indian adolescents enter secondary school unable to read, reason, or apply basic math, putting them at risk of dropping out. Transform Learning works with state governments to identify learning gaps early and deliver structured, targeted instruction so students catch up, gain confidence, and succeed at grade level, making quality secondary education possible for every child.

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Overview

Information on this page is provided by the innovator and has not been evaluated by HundrED.

Updated December 2025

Web presence

2019

Established

9.2M 2023

9.8M 2024

11M 2025

1

Countries

Students basic

Target group

Through Transform Learning, we aim to make strong learning outcomes in secondary school a societal minimum, not a privilege. By strengthening teaching, curriculum, and system capacity, we want every adolescent, especially those furthest behind, to progress confidently through grades, complete secondary education, and access meaningful life chances through lasting systems change.

About the innovation

Why did you create this innovation?

We built Transform Learning after seeing how learning gaps sharply widen as children enter secondary school in India. Over 40% of adolescents do not complete school, and many who remain struggle with basic reading and numeracy, especially girls and rural youth. In overcrowded classrooms with limited support, these gaps grow unchecked, limiting future opportunities for millions.

What does your innovation look like in practice?

Transform Learning works inside regular government classrooms, strengthening what teachers already do rather than adding extra classes. It supports students to rebuild foundational skills, progressively master grade-level content, and consolidate learning for exams and real-world application.
In practice, about 50 hours per subject in English, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, and the regional language are integrated into the school timetable. Government teachers use structured lesson plans to guide students through a “build–apply–consolidate” learning cycle within the school day, helping students engage with grade-level curricula more confidently.
The programme is designed for state-wide scale. It is teacher-led, embedded in government systems, and aligned to state priorities. An independent J-PAL evaluation across 300 schools in Odisha showed learning gains equivalent to up to 1.5 additional years, at a cost of just $11.64 per student.
Teachers receive training, mentoring, and high-quality resources such as Teacher and Student Handbooks and regular assessments. Technology strengthens delivery through Palooza, a gamified practice app for students, and a data system that draws on insights from over 110,000 learners to help teachers respond to learning needs in real time.

How has it been spreading?

Since 2019, Transform Learning has scaled through deep partnerships with state governments, reaching 10.6 million students, 181,000 teachers, and 83,000 schools across eight Indian states. What began as pilots in Odisha, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh is now implemented statewide in Odisha, Karnataka and Tripura. In Karnataka and Odisha, the model has been embedded into the state curriculum as Marusinchana and Utkarsh respectively.
Our impact continues to be independently validated. In 2024–25, studies showed learning gains equivalent to 2–3 years within a single academic year, alongside strong teacher adoption and ownership.
Over the next 2–3 years, we aim to expand to new states, reach low-income private schools, and deepen system integration of secondary learning at scale, building sustainable behaviour change and advancing our goal of reaching 30 million learners by 2030.

If I want to try it, what should I do?

Transform Learning can be adapted across contexts using a structured replication framework. Organisations or governments interested in adopting the model can explore resources on our website or reach out to our partnerships team at partnerships@peopleforaction.org to discuss fit, adaptation, and implementation support.

Implementation steps

Co-design Workshop with the State

Co-design with the State to align priorities and roles: We work with state officials to build shared understanding of the Transform Learning model, align programme priorities, learning goals and timelines.

Orientation for State, District and School Leaders

Orient State officials to ensure smooth implementation: Defining responsibilities across state officials for smooth coordination and ownership.

Training of Master Trainers and Teachers

Train Master Resource Persons and teachers on structured pedagogy and use of handbooks: Prepare teachers, trainers through focused training on pedagogy, assessments and classroom delivery.

Baseline Assessments to Identify Students Learning Levels

We conduct baseline assessments to identify students’ learning levels and gaps. Analyse results to understand class-wise performance and immediate learning needs. The data collected is used to plan grouping, targeted competencies, and instructional strategies for the upcoming phases.

Deliver Foundation, Supported Learning & Consolidation Phases

The programme is delivered in three phases. In the Foundation Phase, students build their basic skills. During the Supported Learning Phase, they learn to apply these skills to grade-level content. Finally, in the Consolidation Phase, students get ready for exams and assessments. Throughout, we use simple lessons, worksheets, digital tools, targeted support, and clear routines to help every learner progress steadily toward grade-level expectations.

Continuous Reflection and Monitoring

We continuously review progress to ensure quality of implementation through continuous monitoring using quality visits, feedback, reflection meetings and internal monitoring tools.

Endline Assessments to Measure Learning Gains

Conduct endline assessment to measure learning gains and reflect on programme outcomes, insights and review strengths and challenges to refine practices.

Dissemination Workshops with state actors

To ensure the sustainability of the programme, we conduct dissemination Workshops with state actors. In these sessions, we share our insights, best practices, and recommendations for continuous improvement with the government education officials.