In 2016, a critical question faced India's education system: how could the foundational learning crisis be solved for millions of children at scale? The answer lay not in parallel systems but in strengthening the government infrastructure itself. This is where the Language and Learning Foundation (LLF), founded in 2015, began its journey. Driven by the vision that all children should acquire strong foundational skills in language, literacy, numeracy, thinking, and reasoning, LLF was born to address this crisis directly within the existing system. Beginning with an 8-month professional development course for 200 teachers, LLF quickly expanded, using continuous professional development as the fulcrum for change.
The Foundation operates with a singular focus on achieving sustainable impact on children’s foundational learning outcomes through deep, long-term partnerships with state governments. LLF's journey included the launch of district-level demonstration programs in 2018, which led to a clear focus on learning outcomes across 30 districts. The organization's programs were later modified into blended and online courses following the challenges of COVID-19. Today, LLF's intervention is comprehensive, involving state-level technical support and academic reform across five states.
Meet the team
Language and Learning Foundation, on LinkedIn
Dr. Dhir Jhingran, Founder and Executive Director
Nishi Suri, Founder & CEO, Brandcross Consulting
Shaveta Sharma Kukreja, CEO & Managing Director At Central Square Fondation
Comprehensive Program Approach: LLF's work is not about fragmented interventions; it is a comprehensive approach that integrates deeply with the government system. Their strategy is two-fold:
State-Level Technical Support: LLF teams co-create instructional design, culturally relevant materials, and teacher handbooks with state agencies. They build the capacity of State Resource Groups (SRGs) and orient them to train teachers and mentors, ensuring that academic reforms are institutionalized within the state structure.
District-Level Support Projects: LLF places dedicated personnel to work closely with the government system across 100-120 schools. This includes training teachers, ensuring effective supervision by mentors, and using data analysis from cluster meetings to guide follow-up actions and improve classroom practices.
Beyond training, LLF's work is concentrated on System Strengthening by supporting state governments in three critical ways: developing high-quality Curriculum and Materials, co-creating annual Teacher Professional Development plans, and building the capacity of Mentors. This support has resulted in the development of student workbooks used by 1.62 crores of children and teacher guides that support 8.56 lakh teachers with structured teaching methods. By co-creating an assessment architecture that includes competency-based, school-based assessments, LLF ensures that the state system is equipped to independently drive FLN solutions, making sure that schools like Rameshwar First Primary School in Varanasi can adopt structured lesson plans and move beyond rote memorization.
