A child’s future should never be determined by the grade at which their school ends.
Yet, for thousands of children growing up in low-income communities across Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Navi Mumbai and Panvel, that is precisely the reality. In these cities, nearly 90% of English-medium government schools end at Grade VII, leaving students with no free pathway to continue their education. For many, this marks the beginning of an education cliff—where financial constraints, limited opportunities and a lack of guidance force dreams to be abandoned far too early.
Across India, the numbers tell a similar story. Only 27% of young people make it to higher education, and many first-generation learners struggle to navigate admissions, finances and career choices without the support systems that more privileged students often take for granted.
iTeach Schools believes this is where meaningful change must begin.
Its To and Through College initiative is built on a simple but powerful idea: true educational equity is achieved not when a child enters school, but when they graduate from college and step confidently into a meaningful career.
Building a Bridge Where None Existed
Rather than accepting systemic gaps, iTeach Schools has worked to close them.
Through an innovative Public–Private Partnership (PPP) model, the organisation collaborates with governments and CSR partners to transform existing public infrastructure into high-quality, free English-medium secondary schools. Today, iTeach operates 13 schools across Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Navi Mumbai and Panvel, providing quality education to more than 4,500 students.
But classrooms are only the starting point.
Recognising that completing school is only one milestone on a much longer journey, iTeach extends its commitment far beyond Grade X.
Supporting Students Until They Succeed
For many first-generation college students, the greatest challenges begin after school.
How do they apply to college? How do they pay their fees? Who helps them choose a career? Who supports them when they feel overwhelmed?
The answer, for thousands of iTeach students, is the College-to-Career (C2C) Programme.
Designed as a five-year continuum of support, the programme walks alongside students through every critical transition. From college admissions and scholarships to mentorship, career counselling, internships, placement support and socio-emotional care through the WeCare initiative, every intervention is designed to ensure that students don’t just enter higher education—they complete it and build successful careers.
It is a model that recognises that opportunity is created not by a single intervention, but by sustained support over time.
Measuring Success by Lives Changed
The initiative’s impact is evident not only in individual success stories but also in measurable outcomes.
Today, 92% of iTeach alumni progress to higher education—more than three times the national average. Eighty-five percent are either employed in sustainable careers or pursuing further studies, creating pathways to long-term economic independence.
Academic excellence continues to reinforce these outcomes. The 2024–25 Grade X cohort achieved an impressive 99% SSC pass rate, with 71.5% of students securing First Class or above.
An independent evaluation further validated the programme’s effectiveness, awarding the College-to-Career initiative a remarkable Social Return on Investment (SROI) of 19.32, highlighting the significant long-term value created for students, families and society.
A Community That Grows Together
At the heart of iTeach’s approach lies the belief that lasting change is collective.
Parents actively participate through school management committees, strengthening accountability and engagement. Alumni return as mentors, guiding younger students through experiences they once navigated themselves. Corporate volunteers contribute industry exposure, career mentorship and professional guidance, while government and CSR partnerships help scale the model sustainably.
Together, they create an ecosystem where every stakeholder plays a role in helping young people succeed.
Creating Generational Change
The true impact of the To and Through College initiative cannot be measured solely through examination scores or college admissions.
It is reflected in families where daughters remain in school instead of being married early. In households where graduates become the first steady earners. In younger siblings who grow up believing that college is not an impossible dream but an expected milestone. And in communities where education gradually becomes the norm rather than the exception.
Every student who crosses the stage to receive a college degree changes the trajectory of an entire family.
A Model for Inclusive Progress
iTeach Schools exemplifies these ideals through a model that addresses one of India’s most pressing educational inequities with practical, measurable and sustainable solutions. By combining high-quality schooling with long-term mentorship, career guidance and holistic support, the organisation ensures that children from underserved communities are not merely educated—they are empowered to thrive.
Because real transformation is not about helping a child reach Grade X. It is about ensuring they reach college, build a career and create a future where the next generation begins life with opportunities their parents never had.
