Turning India's School Investments Into Learning Gains

Across Madhya Pradesh, a network of model public schools is demonstrating what high-quality public education can look like. With modern facilities, strong staffing, and large campuses, these schools represent an ambitious investment in better learning environments. To make sure those investments translated into stronger learning, the government partnered with Peepul to give teachers ongoing instructional support and equip school leaders with the time and tools to improve instruction.

Investing in the People Behind Learning

For teachers, that support starts in the classroom, with ongoing coaching and practical strategies they can use with students right away. The guidance is tailored to the subjects they teach, from opening lessons with an engaging hook to making independent work more effective and asking questions that deepen students’ thinking.

School leaders play a central role in creating the conditions for strong teaching and learning. Peepul gives them structured tools to observe classrooms, meet regularly with academic teams, strengthen instruction, and build a positive school culture.

Unlike traditional professional development, the work doesn’t end after a training session. Peepul’s coaches return to schools, observe classrooms, and meet regularly with teachers and school leaders as new practices take root. Rather than relying on one-time workshops, Peepul stays alongside schools as they put new approaches into practice.

Stronger Teaching, Better Learning

When the partnership began, across grades 3 through 9, just 34% of students were learning at grade level, and attendance sat at 54%, meaning nearly half of enrolled students were not coming to school consistently.

Today, those changes are visible in classrooms. Sixty percent of these schools consistently use the teaching practices introduced through the program, and classroom observations show more students participating in lessons and spending more time engaged in learning.

As classroom experiences improve, more students are coming to school consistently. Attendance has increased 28% over the past two years, with nearly 7 in 10 students now attending regularly.

That consistency is translating into stronger learning outcomes. Nearly 1 in 2 students are now learning at grade level, a 32% increase, according to an independent state assessment. Students in these schools are also more likely to reach grade level than peers in similarly resourced schools.

A Model for Lasting Change

Peepul gives teachers and school leaders practical support they can use every day. When schools invest in both infrastructure and educators, more children come to school, more students learn at grade level, and more public schools deliver high-quality education.