Bridging the Digital Divide: How Code to Enhance Learning Empowers Children in Low-Income Communities

In a classroom in Ahmedabad, India, a group of grade 3 and 4 students are engrossed in a coding lesson. They are not just learning to write lines of code, but developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills – abilities essential for thriving in the 21st century. This is the vision of Code to Enhance Learning (CEL), a non-profit organization with the vision for children to use technology to solve problems to thrive in the current innovative world

The founder of CEL, Irfan Lalani , observed a stark gap in coding education during a fellowship in teaching. While the curriculum emphasized literacy and numeracy, students lacked opportunities to develop 21st-century skills. Research shows that coding not only enhances critical thinking but also instills confidence in children to use technology and pursue tech-driven careers. This gap is particularly concerning in India, where poor infrastructure, a lack of curriculum, and a shortage of trained teachers prevent millions of students from acquiring these essential skills. CEL, a startup from Impact Orbit a program supported by Capgemini, aims to address this challenge by bringing coding education to underserved communities.

Designing a Curriculum for Impact

Creating a curriculum that aligns with India's NEP 2020 and caters to the unique needs of low-income students was a thoughtful process. Irfan Lalani leveraged his classroom experience and referred to established frameworks like CSTA and ISTE to design a comprehensive curriculum. The curriculum integrates coding lessons with core subjects like math and science, promoting multidisciplinary learning as emphasized by NEP 2020.

The curriculum is underpinned by the Observe, Brainstorm, Code, Pitch (OBCP) pedagogy. This encourages students to engage in active observation of real-world problems within their communities. The students then collaboratively brainstorm potential solutions. These brainstormed solutions are then translated into functional code. Finally, students effectively pitch their coded solutions to an audience, building confidence and communication skills. This methodology aligns with NEP's focus on critical thinking and problem-solving while empowering students to see themselves as creators and innovators capable of using technology to address real challenges.

CEL's success is measured through a comprehensive framework that tracks both short-term and long-term impact. Short-term metrics include reach, engagement, and skill acquisition. Over 50,000 students have participated in CEL's programs so far, with a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 70% reflecting high satisfaction. Students show an average growth of 10% in their coding skills within a year.

In the long term, the impact is further measured by the number of computer labs established in collaboration with local governments and the adoption of coding curriculums across districts influenced by CEL's work. A testament to CEL's success is students creating websites for Gram Panchayats and district governments independently launching coding initiatives inspired by CEL's efforts.

Ensuring Sustainability and Scalability

Sustainability and scalability are central to CEL's approach. The organization collaborates with district-level governments to pilot coding programs, demonstrating the impact and feasibility of the model. Key strategies include localized curriculum and teacher support, with curriculum and resources developed in local languages for accessibility. Teachers are extensively trained, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are established to enable districts to independently adopt the program.

A Learning Management System (LMS) hosts the curriculum, offering a platform for teacher training, student learning, and assessment. CEL fosters local ownership by developing resources under the Zilla Parishad's banner, ensuring accountability for the program's long-term sustainability.

CEL initiates pilots by raising funds from local CSR initiatives and donors. Once the pilot demonstrates success, CEL advocates for district-level adoption, encouraging Zilla Parishad to take ownership of operational costs. This approach allows CEL to scale while maintaining program quality, empowering local governments and communities to sustain these initiatives over time.

A Vision for the Future

CEL's vision is to empower children from low-income communities with the 21st-century skills they need to thrive. In the next 10 years, CEL aims to create systemic change by embedding coding and critical thinking education into the fabric of public schooling in India.

In five years, CEL envisions expanding its reach to 100 districts, in an attempt to impact over 1 million children. They aim to strengthen partnerships with district and state governments to scale their programs sustainably. CEL also seeks to establish itself as a key player in bridging the digital divide by developing region-specific, culturally relevant coding curriculums in multiple languages. They aim to create a robust pipeline of first-generation learners who can confidently pursue technology-based careers or entrepreneurial opportunities.

By equipping students with these skills, CEL believes it will not only prepare them for the future workforce but also empower them to solve pressing challenges within their own communities, ultimately reshaping the narrative of education and opportunity for low-income communities across India.

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