Nexus of Good: Catalyst for change

A few self-motivated and driven youngsters have set in motion a set of activities that has the potential to transform how learning can take place amongst children. For this effort, their organisation, Rocket Learning Foundation was recognised in the form of Nexus of Good Annual Award, 2024. They have put in place a model that is already replicating and scaling in the true spirit of Nexus of Good through public-private partnership

It is universally acknowledged that the first six years of a child’s life represent a critical window of opportunity, during which 85 per cent of brain development occurs. These early experiences shape a child’s cognitive skills, emotional well-being, and social development, laying the foundation for their entire future. In India, 60 million children lack access to cognitive stimulation, despite the existence of the most extensive state-administered Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, delivered through 1.4 million Anganwadi Centers (AWCs). These centers often focus predominantly on nutrition and healthcare, neglecting the crucial aspect of cognitive development staffed by under-trained and undervalued Anganwadi workers. Primary caregivers from marginalised communities frequently lack clarity on their role in supporting their child’s learning and feel under confident due to their own low literacy levels. This gap in early learning opportunities reinforces cycles of poverty and systemic inequities that cannot be fully addressed by later remedial interventions.

Recognising this, Rocket Learning, an edtech non-profit intervenes during this pivotal period, from birth to age six. By fostering a robust, community-driven Early Childhood Development (ECD) system, Rocket Learning ensures that every child, regardless of income or background, reaches their full potential in both brain and body development by age six. In just four years, Rocket Learning has partnered with governments to drive systems change in ECD across 10 states—Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Punjab, impacting 3.2 million children and over 210,000 Anganwadi workers (government daycare workers) across 140 districts.

How Rocket Learning is changing realities?

Rocket Learning is revitalising India's vast network of 1.4 million Anganwadi Centers (AWCs), which serve nearly 80 million children under six, through a tech-enabled solution and partnerships with governments for system-level transformation. Rooted in the belief that “it takes a village to raise a child,” they link government daycare systems with parents and communities via a custom WhatsApp-based content delivery platform to bring high-quality early learning and care to every child under six.

Empowering primary caregivers to guide a child’s learning journey

Rocket Learning taps into the innate desire of parents to support their children’s learning and the potential of Anganwadi workers (AWWs) as key players in ECCE and equips both caregivers with tools, resources, and a voice in shaping their children’s education.

Through government-anchored WhatsApp groups and targeted training programmes, Rocket Learning delivers bite-sized, science-backed, play-based learning content that is easy to integrate into daily routines. The platform also shares virtual interactive learning games and worksheets for children, making learning more engaging and accessible, while also continuously gathering and applying data-driven learnings to refine content and ensure it is aligned with each child’s progress. Keeping communities at the heart of their programme, Rocket Learning ensures its content reflects the needs, beliefs, and aspirations of users on their platform while remaining pedagogically sound. For instance, the content is designed to consider the personal and professional aspirations of caregivers, as well as their limitations in time, materials, and know-how.

To sustain engagement, Rocket Learning uses real-time data and AI to provide continuous motivation through virtual “report cards and chocolates” for children, medals for AWWs, and behavioral nudges based on group participation. These digital interactions are complemented by offline initiatives such as regular parent-teacher meetups, termed “choupals,” and quarterly in-person training to up-skill Anganwadi workers on early childhood education. In doing so, they ensure that both parents and AWWs have the support they need to unlock the full potential of every child they nurture.

An example of this impact is Heena and her 5-year-old daughter, Zara, from Jodhpur, India. Despite limited resources, Heena dedicates 30 minutes daily to engaging in play-based activities with Zara through Rocket Learning’s digital classroom. Determined to secure her child’s future, she sits at her doorstep to connect to the internet and participate in activities shared via WhatsApp. Personalised nudges, such as virtual medals and feedback on her progress, motivate Heena to stay consistent and engaged in Zara’s learning journey. Meanwhile, Heena’s Anganwadi worker, Jaya, plays a vital role by reinforcing the learning within the community. She implements the activities received through the Anganwadi worker WhatsApp groups and the training she’s undergone, ensuring that the learning continues seamlessly at home and centre.

Advancing Early Childhood Development (ECD) through policy and systemic change

Rocket Learning collaborates with national and state governments to align ECCE schemes with grassroots realities, while advocating for ECCE to be integrated into long-term development frameworks. As a key ECCE partner to India’s Ministry of Women and Child Development, Rocket Learning has played a crucial role in developing and rolling out the groundbreaking 'Navchetana' and 'Aadharshila' curricula for children aged 0-6, spanning all stages from planning and design to implementation across 10 states. At the forefront of driving system-wide change in ECCE, Rocket Learning has also been instrumental in the implementation of “Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi”, India’s landmark ECCE programme, which seeks to transform Anganwadi centers into dynamic learning environments for children under six.

Closing the gap: Rocket Learning's path to scalable, impactful ECCE solution

Rocket Learning’s systems-based approach, coupled with simple, low-touch technology, ensures they meet children, caregivers, and Anganwadi workers exactly where they are. By providing personalised, localised experiences and a human-centric design, Rocket Learning has achieved an impressive 30 per cent engagement rate, far surpassing the 2 per cent industry average. Most importantly, their solution is not only scalable and effective but also incredibly cost-efficient, at just USD 1.90 per child per year. With groundbreaking results, such as 70 per cent of cohorts achieving school and life readiness compared to just 50 per cent in traditional models, Rocket Learning is paving the way forward for ECCE at scale. Looking ahead, Rocket Learning aims to reach 50 million underserved children by 2030, furthering its mission to make quality ECCE accessible to every child, regardless of their background as the future of India depends on it.

Views expressed are personal