Lend A Hand India scales skill education in Maharashtra
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Lend A Hand India (LAHI) is partnering with the Sangli district administration in Maharashtra, India, to train school leaders and teachers in 979 schools to deliver a new skill education curriculum.
For decades, skill-based education in Indian schools was separate from mainstream learning, but the National Education Policy 2020 and the Maharashtra State Curriculum Framework 2024 now require hands-on skill exposure for all students starting in Grade 6.
LAHI is working to bridge the gap between this policy and practical classroom implementation. Founded in 2006, LAHI believes skill education should develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, not just prepare students for trades. The organization collaborates with existing government systems, providing curriculum design, teacher training, and monitoring to ensure sustainable implementation of skill education at scale.
LAHI chose Sangli district, a hub for skilled trades like agriculture and turmeric processing, as the first location for its “District Model.” With support from district officials, LAHI oriented over 90 percent of the district’s school leaders and is currently training more than 1,900 teachers to facilitate hands-on learning using the Kaushal Bodh curriculum for Grades 6 to 8.
The training equips teachers to move away from lectures and towards project-based learning, and LAHI trains multiple teachers at each school to account for staff changes. LAHI hopes the success in Sangli will provide a model for expanding skill education to over 25,000 schools throughout Maharashtra and beyond.
