‍How can we improve accessibility to high-quality, affordable private education in rural and peri-urban Lucknow?‍

Rural India's educational outcomes reveal inequalities in comparison with urban areas, presenting an opportunity to explore affordable private education options. To make high quality education affordable and accessible, Athena is supporting Lucknow-based private school network City Montessori School (CMS). The aim is therefore to provide technical assistance in the design and execution of a Social Impact Bond (SIB). This SIB seeks to fund three affordable, high-quality private schools in the immediate vicinity of rural and peri-urban Lucknow. The SIB will leverage the experience, capacity, and resources of CMS to provide high-quality education programs. It will also offer complementary skill-building and character development components, at an affordable and highly subsidized price point for the most deserving students. The outcomes of this project include: improvement of learning outcomes (assessed against the Uttar Pradesh Board Examination standards), improvement in technological proficiency, and additionally positive personality development.