Background

Quality education is key to maximizing a child’s potential and preparing them for the challenges of the future. Education plays a significant role in alleviating poverty, income inequality, and promoting social justice. It can help break generational cycles of poverty, eliminate social issues such as child marriage, dowry, child labour, and promote gender equality. Further, quality education helps children develop critical thinking skills, creativity and resilience.

The right to education act was passed in 2009 in India, to enable millions of children from underserved communities to receive formal education. However, according to the Census of 2011, over 15% of children between the ages of 5-19 received no formal education or attended regular school. The literacy rates in India at present suggest that one in five adults lack the written communication skills necessary to sustain employment in the organized sector. A quality education is the stepping stone to a future free from poverty and social inequality. 

Thus, with the belief that access to quality education is imperative for all children across caste, class, gender, and income backgrounds, The Global South Scholars Program was founded. GSSP hopes to supplement the existing formal education with a thorough and methodical approach that fosters learning beyond the classroom, and prepares the students for competitive education programs and opportunities.