Kotak Education Foundation School Programmes - Corporate Responsibility - Kotak Bank

Kotak Education Foundation

Education Foundation


School Programmes

The KEF currently partners with 30 regional language schools, most of them in Mumbai’s M-ward, catering to children from underprivileged families.
These schools are government-aided private institutions, set up by social entrepreneurs. However, they lack quality teaching, infrastructure and leadership.
Through its various programmes, the KEF complements their efforts.

Programmes

Spoken English Programme

Even though they are introduced to English at the primary level, students in these schools find it difficult to learn it because of inadequate teaching and lack of exposure.

The KEF bridges this gap with the Spoken English Programme, by training these students to understand and speak the language better. Through our efforts, we aim to ease their transition to college, where the medium of instruction is English.  And later, to give them better access to jobs in to the organised sector.

Health & Nutrition

Poor health is one of the main reasons behind children underperforming or dropping out of school. And very often, these health issues aren’t caught at an early stage.

The KEF works with students from its partner schools to address some of these problems. Our health initiatives include:

Vision check-up camps: All the students of our partner schools get regular eye check-ups. Those with poor vision receive spectacles, medication or surgery, if needed.

Kishori Sehat Abhiyan: An initiative that assesses adolescent girls to arrest anaemia, by offering nutritional support, awareness on nutrition and hygiene, sensitisation sessions for parents and teachers, and talks by medical experts.

Parvarish programme: An effort to address malnutrition issues among younger children studying at the pre-primary and primary level.

Deworming programme: Here, we deworm students from standards 5 to 10 by educating them through hygiene sessions, and distributing free deworming tablets.

SPARSH (Sensitisation Programme for Adolescents on Reproductive Sexual Health): Through this programme, we educate adolescents about sexual health, and equip them to handle the physical and psychological changes they undergo during their teens. We also create awareness of issues such as HIV/AIDS and substance abuse.

Mazhi Swatcha Shala: An effort that sensitises students and staff to maintain a clean school environment, by inculcating habits of personal hygiene and cleanliness in class, in toilets and on the premises at large.

Scholarship & Mentoring

Often, underprivileged students fall behind and lose out in life because they do not receive the right guidance on time. Through the KEF, we conduct two programmes to address this problem.

One provides academic support, both in school, and by way of coaching classes. The other addresses the equally important need for emotional support, not just for students, but for their families as well.

Kotak Udaan

Kotak Udaan is a scholarship programme for students who’re facing extreme hardships in life, and whose academic performance is suffering as a result. Through this programme, we give them the support they need to improve their performance and continue their education.

Here are some highlights: 

  • Community-based coaching classes and individual as well as group academic sessions that reinforce their learning and motivate them to do better in school.
  • Regular follow-ups and counseling sessions for students and parents to make education a priority, and create the right environment at home for it.
  • Personality development sessions for their holistic growth.
  • Visits to broaden the students’ horizons and give them exposure beyond their home and school.
  • Provision of new school uniforms.
  • Workshops on grooming, communication skills, time and money management.
  • Medical aid for students and their family members, in cases where health issues have become a big hurdle to studying further.

Kotak 'In Search of Excellence'

The KEF offers support to bright young people whose families fall below the poverty line.

Students in the 11th and 12th standard, who have scored over 80% in their SSC exams, receive financial aid for two years through a monthly scholarship, along with mentorship, counseling, coaching and career guidance. 

School Teachers Enrichment Programme (STEP)

With this integrated programme, the KEF creates opportunities for teachers in its partner schools to improve their teaching skills.

It involves: 

  • Workshops on English and communication skills.
  • Workshops that enable them to teach academic English, as well as Science and Math in English, better.
  • A focus on improving pedagogy.
  • Personalised mentoring through classroom observations and feedback.

School Leadership Development Initiative (SLDI)

Usually, the seniormost teacher in a school is promoted to the position of headmaster. And while he/she may be a good teacher, the skills needed to be a good leader and manager are often missing. Currently, there are no schools in India that train teachers for this role.

This is why the KEF has developed a 3-year School Leadership Development Initiative (SLDI) for headmasters of its partner schools. Through workshops and an intensive mentoring programme, we equip them with the skills they need to lead their schools, and their students, to success.

Parent Intervention Programme (PIP)

Often, parents who are below the poverty line (BPL) are unaware of the importance of education. Through this programme, we create awareness among them, so they can motivate their children to study further.

We discuss topics such as parental support for education, health, hygiene and diet. And also create models that these parents can apply to support their children for the future.