Overview
Middle school students bring curiosity, independence, and a growing sense of purpose. With the right support, they’re eager to stay focused and motivated about what comes next. But in India, one in three students drops out before finishing high school, and many who stay graduate without the confidence or communication skills they need to move forward. Magic Bus is changing that by working in public schools to build those skills early, making learning more engaging, more relevant, and more connected to life beyond school.
Magic Bus equips teachers to run hands-on lessons that get students talking, working together, and solving problems. For students in grades 6–8, these practical skills build confidence in the classroom and lay the groundwork for the teamwork and communication expected in the real world.
The program is now running across three districts in Haryana, reaching students in 535 government schools, where more than 1,100 teachers have been trained to deliver structured monthly sessions for grades 6–8, with plans to extend through grade 10. Because the model is embedded directly into the public system and supported at scale, it is built to reach more students, more consistently, across the state.
More than 87,000 students in the Magic Bus program are showing measurable gains. When the program began, students averaged just 26% on assessments of skills like communication, decision-making, and teamwork. In nearly one year, that average rose to 43%, a 17-point gain. These schools also outperformed their peers — non-intervention schools gained only 2 points over the same period, reinforcing the strength of the model.
One of the program’s strengths is its focus on outcomes that are often considered hard to measure. Magic Bus support officers visit schools regularly to observe sessions and track how these real-world skills influence attendance, participation, and persistence in school. These same skills are also increasingly in demand from employers.
Today, 60% of youth ages 18–21 in India are considered “not job ready,” contributing to a youth unemployment rate of 34%. By building these skills early, Magic Bus is helping students stay engaged in school – and take their next step with confidence.
Preeti, an 11-year-old student in Haryana, was always determined to learn, but rarely spoke up. When her school introduced the Magic Bus program, that began to shift. Through structured group activities and reflection, she practiced sharing her ideas and working closely with classmates. Now she is leading discussions.
Her confidence is reshaping her experience in school and encouraging others in her class to speak up and engage.
