Academic Support Program

Rooted in the principles of recent policy recommendations, this program equips teachers with innovative, evidence-based strategies—particularly in foundational learning, STEM education, and teaching of key academic subjects—to create vibrant, joyful, and developmentally appropriate classrooms.

1. From Rote Learning to Deep Understanding

At the heart of our program is the goal of moving beyond textbook memorization to ensure that every child gains a deep, durable understanding of concepts. We help teachers shift from content-heavy, exam-driven approaches to a learner-centered pedagogy that values curiosity, exploration, and comprehension. This shift supports:

• Joyful and engaging classrooms where students enjoy learning
• Stronger connections between knowledge and real-life application where learning is perceived as useful
• Reduced need for repetitive revision or last-minute exam preparation

 

2. Pedagogical Approaches that Work: Cooperative Learning

A core pillar of our academic support is cooperative learning. In this model, students learn by working in pairs or small groups under the guidance of the teacher. This interactive and structured method promotes:

• Deeper conceptual understanding through discussion and peer teaching
• Teamwork and communication skills essential for future success
• Increased engagement, especially among students who may not thrive in traditional lecture-based settings

 

We train teachers to embed cooperative learning into everyday classroom practices, making learning more participatory, experiential, and meaningful for all.

3. Competency-Based Learning

Our program aligns teaching practices with the competency-based education model outlined in national policy frameworks. Teachers are supported in designing learning experiences that target specific curricular goals and develop clearly defined competencies—that is, measurable knowledge, skills, and dispositions.

To operationalize this approach:

• Teachers use Learning Outcomes (LOs) as intermediate milestones toward broader competencies
• Instruction is planned backwards from these outcomes to ensure purposeful learning
• Reduced dependence on the textbook and inclusion of appropriate teaching-learning materials (TLMs)

 

4. Assessment as a Tool for Learning

Assessment in our program is not just about testing what students remember—it’s about understanding how they learn. We emphasize a balanced system of assessment that includes both:

• Formative assessments, conducted continuously to inform teaching and support learning in real time
• Summative assessments, used periodically to gauge cumulative learning at key transition points

 

Teachers are trained to use a range of assessment tools to evaluate both competencies that can be measured through pen-and-paper tests and those that require alternative methods—ensuring comprehensive, ongoing support for each student’s growth.

5. Reducing Content, Deepening Inquiry

We advocate for reduced curriculum load to free up time for what matters most—thinking, creating, and connecting ideas. With fewer topics to ‘cover,’ teachers begin to focus on:

• Inquiry-based learning, where students explore and construct knowledge actively
• Multidisciplinary integration, drawing connections across subjects and life contexts
• Holistic education, supporting the cognitive, emotional, social, and ethical growth of every child

 

6. Reading and Language Development Across the Curriculum

Language is foundational to all learning. Our support includes strategies for reading development and integrated language instruction, especially in the early years:

• Systematic approaches to build vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension
• Incorporation of reading and discussion across all subject areas
• Respect for home languages alongside strengthening academic language in classrooms

 

Our Academic Support Program is not a one-time intervention. It is a sustained commitment to building teacher capacity, strengthening classroom practice, and shaping learning environments that nurture every child’s potential. Through this approach we help schools:

• Foster 21st-century skills like communication, creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking
• Build inclusive and equitable classrooms where all children learn with dignity and purpose
• Realize the vision of the National Education Policy—where education is meaningful, relevant, enjoyable and rooted in values

 

Through capacity-building workshops, in-class mentoring, observation-based feedback, and ongoing professional development, we guide schools toward lasting, learner-centered transformation of how academic subjects are taught and learned.