With a focus on grassroots impact and sustainable change, the Bharti Airtel Foundation is paving the way for a future where every child has access to quality education and every teacher is equipped to inspire. We have the Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, Mamta Saikia discussing it’s innovative programmes, transforming schools into vibrant hubs of learning and more
Tejal Sinha
Education in India presents a tale of contrasts. Urban areas enjoy access to well-equipped schools with quality teaching, while rural regions face persistent challenges in delivering basic education. Recognizing this disparity, the Bharti Airtel Foundation, under the leadership of its visionary founder, has committed itself to bridging this gap by focusing on grassroots education. In this exclusive conversation, Mamta Saikia, the founder sheds light on the Foundation’s efforts, their pioneering approaches, and the launch of the transformative Teachers App.
The journey of the Bharti Airtel Foundation began with a mission to address the challenges faced by rural schools. “We’ve been working in education for over 24 years now,” Mamta Saikia, the CEO of the foundation shared. “When we talk about quality education, you’ll find excellent schools in big cities. However, the real work – if we are serious about equitable education – needs to happen in villages where resources are limited.”
Punjab served as the Foundation’s testing ground for impactful, scalable models. “In rural schools, even the teachers are from local villages. While they have potential, they lack structured training. That’s where we came in, developing programmes to help these teachers enhance their classroom practices,” she explained
The Foundation’s efforts led to the introduction of academic mentors, a key initiative designed to create lasting improvements. These mentors regularly visit schools, working closely with teachers, principals and even students to address their unique needs.
“We didn’t just focus on teachers,” the CEO elaborated. “We also created student leaders. They are the most powerful agents of change. By fostering leadership among students, principals and teachers alike, we’ve created schools where children want to learn and teachers are motivated to teach.”
This vision materialized through the Quality Support Programme, initially launched in just eight schools but now reaching thousands. “We engage with schools for five years under this programme to ensure that the changes we introduce are sustainable. It’s not about quick fixes – it’s about fostering growth across the entire school ecosystem.”
A key element of the Foundation’s model has been the introduction of clubs and houses in schools, bringing a vibrant energy to these institutions. “These activities are more than extracurricular – they help students develop critical life skills such as communication, leadership, and stress management,” she said.
These efforts have equipped students with abilities that go beyond academics. “Leadership, confidence, and communication skills are essential for success in any field, and these activities provide a platform for students to build those skills.”
The impact of these programmes quickly caught the attention of progressive block and district education officers. “Many government officers recognized the potential of our model and invited us to collaborate on scaling it across their regions.”
To sustain this growth, the Foundation began training resource personnel at district and State levels. “This ensures that even when our direct engagement with schools ends, the practices we’ve introduced continue to benefit future generations.”
In its mission to revolutionize education in India, the Bharti Airtel Foundation has launched TheTeacherApp, a comprehensive platform designed to uplift schools by empowering teachers, school leaders, and educationists. At its core, the platform believes in creating happy and energized schools where teachers, students, and parents are actively engaged in the process of school transformation.
The app seeks to bridge gaps in education by equipping teachers with high-quality, engaging content and tools that enable them to build better learning environments. The Foundation firmly believes that transformative education starts with empowered educators who can inspire and guide their students effectively.
The Teachers App marks a new chapter in the Foundation’s mission. Designed to empower educators, this digital platform provides curated resources tailored to their specific needs.
“The app offers subject-focused content for teachers of classes eight and nine, but its scope goes beyond academics. It includes materials for principals and senior faculty to deepen their understanding of effective pedagogy,” she explained.
One of the app’s standout features is the Green School initiative, which fosters an environmentally conscious mindset among teachers and students. “This program goes beyond planting trees. It’s about equipping schools to integrate sustainability into their daily operations and educational practices.”
The app also addresses practical challenges faced by teachers, such as exam preparation and the need for innovative classroom strategies. “Every teacher, whether in private or government schools, needs a mentor. The Teachers App provides that mentorship, ensuring teachers are better equipped to nurture their students.”
Through the app, the foundation is not only addressing existing challenges in education but also laying the groundwork for a brighter, more inclusive future. By empowering teachers to reimagine their schools and instilling a renewed sense of purpose within the teaching community, the platform is driving the transformation of education in India – one classroom at a time.
Concluding the conversation, the founder reflected on the broader goals of the Foundation. “Our ultimate aim is to build future citizens by strengthening the pillars of education. The fact that state governments are reaching out to us for support shows that we are on the right path,” they remarked.
Mamta emphasised that education reform isn’t just about improving content delivery. “It’s about creating schools where children love to learn, teachers enjoy teaching, and communities take pride in their institutions. By focusing on grassroots initiatives and leveraging technology like the Teachers App, we can ensure a brighter future for our country.”
These initiatives demonstrate how targeted, holistic efforts can address systemic challenges in education. With the Teachers App, the Quality Support Programme and their commitment to working with local communities, the Foundation is paving the way for meaningful, long-lasting change in the lives of India’s students and educators.
