Inequity is perhaps the most serious problem in education worldwide. It has multiple causes, and its consequences include differences in access to schooling, retention, and, more importantly, learning. Educational equity means making sure every student, no matter their race, pin code, family income, or ability, gets what they need to learn, grow, and succeed.
251 million children and youth worldwide are out of school
Only 14% of low-income students score at or above proficient in reading, compared to 44% of their high-income peers.
Students in high-poverty schools are four times more likely to be taught by out-of-field or uncertified teachers than those in low-poverty schools.
At 16, Samara Chauhan envisions an India where public school students have equal access to the opportunities and resources available in private schools, creating a world of personal and professional growth for all.
In her words, “It’s not about giving everyone the same, but about meeting each child where they are and lifting them up.”
This goal inspired her to launch the Learning with Equity and Access Program (LEAP), which aims to bridge the educational divide by providing accessibility in learning through resources, educational games, forum discussions, study tips, interactions, and community projects.
The platform brings together students from all walks of life to interact and communicate, bridging the educational disparity and opening up learning opportunities regardless of their socio-economic backgrounds.
Samara is working on a research article tentatively titled “Assessment of Competencies Among High School Students: A Comparative Study of Public and Private Schools,” which will examine the viewpoints of students, parents, and teachers and provide insights into addressing social disparity better.
She regularly visits government schools across the country and interacts with students first-hand to get a closer understanding of their needs and challenges.
Her ambitions were further bolstered during an internship with NITI Aayog, where she was introduced to the concept of Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs), which have been established in Indian schools with the goal of cultivating ‘one million neoteric innovators’, or young people who are curious, creative, and imaginative, and have learned skills such as design mindset, computational thinking, and adaptive learning.
Through education equity programs in collaboration with ATL Sarthi, Samara and her team have brought together public and private school students, enabling over 5,000 learners and teachers to collaborate across socio-economic divides
