April 1, 2025

In a pioneering step toward strengthening grassroots education, Gurgaon First has initiated the formation of a Network of NGO Schools and Skilling Initiatives in Gurgaon. The initiative aims to bring together over 60 charitable education initiatives in the city—including NGO-run schools, community-based learning centers, and skilling institutes—many of which operate independently with limited reach and resources.

The purpose of the network is to create a collaborative ecosystem that enables:

Knowledge sharing and exchange of best practice

Joint teacher training and capacity buildings

Pooling of resources, including volunteers, teachers, and infrastructure

Organisation of intra-school events such as sports meets, art festivals, health camps, and awareness workshops

Collective advocacy for common challenges faced by NGO schools

To kick off the initiative, a roundtable discussion was held on April 1, 2025, at Shiv Nadar School, Gurgaon, bringing together a group of NGO schools for an open dialogue on shared concerns and aspirations. Participants unanimously acknowledged the urgent need for such a network and supported the idea of continued collaboration. Following this initial meeting, more schools have expressed interest and are joining the network.

During the discussions, several challenges commonly faced by these schools came to light:

Many schools operate from rented or temporary premises lacking basic infrastructure such as classrooms, toilets, or play areas.

Funding remains unpredictable, with most relying on CSR grants or individual donations.

There is a shortage of qualified teachers due to financial constraints.

A lack of digital tools and infrastructure continues to limit learning potential.

Skilling opportunities for students who are unable to complete formal education remain inadequate.

To address these gaps, the network will begin by mapping and collecting data on each school and their specific needs. Planned activities in the coming months include capacity-building workshops, teacher training, and the organisation of a sports or arts meet among participating schools. Initially functioning as an informal group, the network may evolve into a formal association to streamline coordination and amplify collective impact. The initiative has been widely appreciated by stakeholders as a much-needed step toward building solidarity, promoting quality education, and ensuring holistic development for underserved children across Gurgaon.