The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aims to universalize education from pre-primary to secondary levels by 2030 and achieve 100% Gross Enrolment Ratio. Though India has made significant progress in increasing school enrolment, girl-child dropout rates still remain a challenge. According to the Ministry of Education’s Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) 2021–22 data, dropout rates among girls stand at 1.4% at the primary level, 3.3% at the upper primary level, and a concerning 12.3% at the secondary level. Financial limitations, safety concerns, patriarchal norms, and socio-cultural barriers continue to push girls out of classrooms.
Project Maitri–Vidya reflects PSI India’s commitment to empower girls through the transformative power of education. The project focuses on identifying and enrolling out-of-school girls, particularly those aged 7–14, back into the formal school system. Implemented across 150 villages in two blocks of Deoria district, Uttar Pradesh, the initiative works closely with poor families, communities, and government schools to ensure that every girl has the opportunity to complete her primary education and pursue a brighter future.
PSI India follows a strong community-engagement approach to identify out-of-school girls. Working closely with local networks, village influencers, and frontline workers, the team conducts door-to-door surveys and participatory mapping to identify girls who have never attended school or have dropped out. Post mapping, families receive personalised counselling to address barriers that keep girls away from classrooms. Through group meetings, community dialogues, and awareness sessions, the program helps shift mindsets and build collective support for girls' education.
PSI India supports families during the admission process by assisting with documentation and working closely with school authorities to streamline enrolment. Further by leveraging ‘Gyan Ka Pitara Kit’, developed by Educate Girls for remedial learning. Each kit, provided to every school, supports up to 45 students (girls and boys) who struggle with foundational skills in Mathematics, English, and Hindi. The remedial sessions focus on closing learning gaps, offering personalised attention, and using child-friendly methods to build confidence and improve performance.
Ensuring that girls not only enrol but also continue their education is central to PSI India’s approach. Regular follow-ups with families reinforce the importance of consistent attendance and help address challenges that may put girls at risk of dropping out. Community health workers and local volunteers further strengthen these efforts by motivating and supporting families.
To maintain accuracy and accountability, PSI India conducts cross-verification at two key stages through a customised digital platform, first during the identification of out-of-school girls, and again after their enrolment. This enables real-time data validation and supports developing data-driven strategies.
PSI India also partners with schools to promote retention by coordinating with authorities to address infrastructural needs, improve learning resources, and foster safe, friendly environments where girls feel encouraged to stay in school and learn confidently.
