Pune: Until last year, Std III student Yash Khomne from a zilla parishad school in Marathwada rarely raised his hand to answer in class. He struggled with basic reading and often sat silently through lessons. Today, he leads his class in singing, answers questions confidently and even helps peers solve simple arithmetic problems.His transformation began when the school introduced AI-enabled tools. Yash’s classroom now has lessons with interactive videos and songs played through Sampark TV, followed by prompts from an AI-supported teaching assistant that help the teacher.Partnering with state govts to transform primary education, Sampark Foundation has introduced digital tools in govt schools designed to improve foundational learning while making teaching more effective.Built for low-resource classrooms, these tools work without internet and use videos, songs, stories, and real-time prompts to support teachers inside the classroom. Teachers get help in lesson planning, and identifying learning gaps.Across Maharashtra, similar stories are emerging. In a multi-grade classroom in Vidarbha, where a teacher manages over 35 students, structured lesson sequencing under ‘Sahi Kram, Sahi Dhang’ pedagogy has streamlined teaching. “Earlier, I spent too much time planning. Now, I know exactly what to teach and how. I can focus on the students instead,” a teacher said.At the ZP primary school in Mandovhal, a govt-run primary school in Parner block of Ahilyanagar district, student absenteeism was a challenge. With the introduction of Sampark Smart Device and Smart School App, the classrooms became engaging and joyful.School teacher Eknath Londhe said, “Attendance reached 100%, and student participation and curiosity increased. Previously inactive students became confident learners. Students started enjoying learning, asking questions, and actively participating. Teachers and parents observed a positive change. When learning becomes joyful, better attendance follows.”Shravani Gaikwad, a Std IV student, from Zilla Parishad Primary School, Sant Goroba, Kakanagar in Dharashiv, said her class likes the songs by Sampark Didi. “She teaches us in a simple way. We learn English words, solve maths, and listen to stories. Learning becomes enjoyable. The AI devices and tools have reduced our fear of maths and English,” she added.Principal secretary of the state education department Ranjit Singh Deol said, “AI can be a force multiplier when harnessed alongside pedagogy. Maharashtra welcomes the transformative role it can play in advancing our vision for quality learning with robust digital infrastructure.”The intervention comes at a critical time, when enrolment in primary schools is high but learning outcomes remain uneven. By reducing the administrative burden and offering structured, engaging content, teachers can reclaim time for actual teaching.Sampark is also deploying an AI-based, real-time classroom monitoring and governance platform, planned to be rolled out across 80,000 government schools across India.The no-cost platform will enable district, block, and school-level education officials to track teaching data, monitor classroom engagement, and predict learning outcomes, strengthening evidence-based decision-making and accountability within the public education system.
