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Value Education Trust

We provide marginalised children in India with high-quality, age-appropriate skill training that enhances their primary and secondary education, helping them achieve successful learning outcomes, lifelong growth, and responsible citizenship.

  • Bronze Certified 2023
  • 80G
  • 12A
  • CSR-1
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About

  • Headquarters

    Tiruvalla, Kerala

  • Since

    1992

Founded in 1992 by Dr. George Samuel, a former nuclear scientist, Value Education Trust (VET, head-quartered in Tiruvalla, Kerala) has evolved from pr Read moreomoting value-based education to integrating an innovative educational program targeting marginalized children in Kerala aged 10 to 13. This program uses Abacus and Vedic Math to bridge critical gaps in numeracy and is complemented with comprehensive life skills training to nurture well-rounded personalities. This evolution has been under the leadership of Anne Samuel since 2018, who has driven the expansion of our programs to meet the diverse needs of children from underserved communities. VET's approach also involves intensive training for local teachers, ensuring sustainability and deeper community impact. The organization is deeply rooted in the community, utilizing local resources and personnel to deliver impactful education. Currently, the program is being implemented in partnership with 10 government-aided schools in Trivandrum and Ernakulam districts. A total of 30 teachers are being trained to teach 460 children in 30 batches.


Issue

Kerala, boasting an impressive Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.78, a literacy rate of 94 per cent, and an average life expectancy of 76 years at birth, stands as a shining example of development and progress. Challenges Faced by Kerala’s Youth Yet, despite Kerala’s impressive development indicators, its youth face significant challenges in various aspects of their personal and career growth, creating a paradox of progress. According to ASER 2023, the following statistics highlight the challenges faced by Kerala’s youth: •⁠ ⁠A significant 17.2% cannot name any work or job they aspire to do. •⁠ ⁠18.6% are not enrolled in any undergraduate degree, diploma or certificate course •⁠ ⁠A staggering 61.2% cannot do simple financial calculations like applying a discount and calculating repayment. These figures primarily stem from low learning outcomes at the school level. This stark contrast between the state’s overall development and the struggles of its youth highlights the pressing need for targeted educational interventions at the school level. Amala’s Story: A Microcosm of the Larger Issue Let’s delve deeper into this issue through the story of Amala, a fifth grader who is among the 3.8 million children attending the 11,780 government and government-aided schools in Kerala. Amala attends a government-aided school in Ernakulam that provides free education and midday meals. Hailing from a humble background, her father earns a living as a daily wage painter and struggles to support the family while her mother takes care of her and her younger sibling. Despite their limited financial means, with a monthly income of merely 12,000 rupees, Amala nurtures a dream to become a doctor. She imagines herself in a white coat, helping her community. However, her dream seems distant as she struggles to understand her science textbook or solve a simple math problem. This was particularly evident in her first-term exam scores in grade 5: 36% in Math, 43% in General Science, 53% in Social Science, and 28% in English, averaging just 40%. With her parents unable to offer academic support due to their lack of formal education and financial constraints preventing access to additional tutoring, her pursuit of education is fraught with obstacles. The Broader Issue This situation is not unique to Amala but reflects a broader issue, as demonstrated by our pilot project, which assessed 30 children showing below-average performances: 40% in Math, 34% in General Science, 45% in Social Science, and 45% in English, with an overall average of 45.9%. In June 2022, we conducted a pre-intervention survey involving two tests among 500 children from low-income families across three districts in Kerala. The results were alarming: the children scored an average of only 7.3% in foundational numeracy and 10.3% in a combined test of reading, listening, logical thinking, memory, and speed. In Amala’s school, despite having dedicated teachers and resources, 80% of children scored below 20% in foundational numeracy. This dire state of educational progress is supported by the 2022 ASER report, which highlighted that 73.2% of grade 5 children in Kerala struggle with basic division, and 55.7% of grade 8 children have difficulty with this essential math skill. Moreover, the National Achievement Survey of 2021 points to additional learning deficiencies: 35.3% of grade 5 children in Kerala are unable to read a grade-two-level English textbook, 43% cannot read with comprehension and identify details and sequences in texts, and 48% struggle to categorise objects by their properties such as shape, taste, colour, texture, and sound. The Urgency of the Situation These findings suggest significant educational gaps among the 3.8 million children aged 6 to 14 attending Kerala’s government or government-aided schools. The urgency of addressing these educational gaps cannot be overstated. If these educational gaps persist, we risk creating a workforce that is ill-equipped for the modern economy. This situation not only stifles growth but also exacerbates social inequalities. Conclusion In summary, the absence of developmentally appropriate proficiency levels among children attending government and government-aided schools in Kerala restricts their access to education beyond the higher secondary level. This, in turn, impedes their opportunities for personal growth, livelihood, and meaningful societal contribution.


Action

Our initiative extends over four years, starting from the 5th grade and continuing through the 8th grade. In the initial two years, we focus on developing the children's numerical skills and overall learning capacity using the abacus. The abacus provides a tangible, visual method for understanding numbers, utilizing beads that help form mental images of mathematical concepts. By engaging both hands in abacus calculations, children develop additional neural connections, enhancing communication within the brain and sparking a robust interest in learning across various subjects. As the children advance to the 7th and 8th grades, our program shifts towards enhancing their speed in calculations and problem-solving abilities in Math, employing techniques from Vedic Math. Vedic Math also simplifies certain aspects of algebraic manipulation and geometric problem-solving, enabling students to perform mental calculations swiftly and efficiently—up to 10-15 times faster—thus providing them with a substantial edge in competitive exams. In the final year, we also offer extensive training in vital personal and professional skills, including communication, learning strategies, time management, and career planning. This training is designed to help students achieve improved academic performance, heightened confidence, greater adaptability, and enhanced problem-solving capabilities. Over these four years, students additionally benefit from: Moral education classes that bolster personal and social development. Workshops in Kalarippayattu, a martial art that promotes discipline and self-care. Abacus competitions and talent exhibitions that build self-esteem. Additionally, we engage parents throughout the project with counselling sessions on crucial topics such as the value of education, effective parenting, responsible internet use, and awareness of substance abuse. Parents are also involved in periodic performance review meetings, providing them with a clear view of their child's progress and fostering a supportive home environment for learning.

Demographies Served

Cause Area

Sector

Sub Sector

Impact

Reflecting on Amala's educational journey, her academic scores have impressively improved after 18 months of dedicated training. By the end of the third term in sixth grade, her results had significantly increased across all subjects: from 36% to 53% in Mathematics, 43% to 45% in General Science, 53% to 83% in Social Science, and a remarkable leap from 28% to 92% in English. This marks an overall improvement of 28%. Amala's class teacher has observed notable enhancements not only in her academic performance but also in her confident engagement with school extracurricular activities. Amala, in her own words, with her newfound enthusiasm for learning, says, "Mathematics now feels more intuitive, and my overall confidence has soared. The brain exercises from the Abacus classes have sharpened my focus, allowing me to solve problems visually without needing physical tools. Additionally, the character education sessions have reinforced my belief that with hard work, I can achieve anything—a principle I am eager to apply in all my endeavours." Amala’s mother also expresses her delight over Amala's progress: "Amala's initial performance in fifth grade was concerning, especially in Math, where she failed. However, since joining the project, there's been a tremendous improvement in her grades, and she's also become very active in school events, often taking on coordinating roles." The progress extends beyond Amala, touching all 30 children in our pilot program. Over 18 months, their scores have improved from 40% to 53% in Math, 34% to 50% in General Science, 45% to 63% in Social Science, and 45% to 60% in English, culminating in an overall enhancement of 16%. The Headmistress of St. Thomas GHS, Ernakulam, where we conduct our pilot program, applauds the initiative: "Value Education Trust's provision of free abacus classes has been transformative. It has not only boosted the children’s numerical abilities but has also significantly enhanced their character development. Previously disengaged students have become more attentive and focused across all subjects. They have also shown improved behaviour and social skills. The project's impact is particularly evident among our fifth and sixth graders."

Programs

  • 4 line

    District

    State

    4 line is a four-year after-school programme to improve the learning outcomes of marginalised children of grades 5 to 8. Currently, we are collaborating with 6 schools, equipping 18 teachers to train 260 children.
    Our Approach
    1. Identification & Assessment
    We select a government-funded school with marginalised students and engage in a 6-month process to assess needs.
    2. Child Selection & Teacher Training
    We select grade 5 children after verifying their eligibility. We also select school teachers and train them as certified instructors.
    3. The 4-year delivery
    In the first year, we strengthen children's basic numeracy and enhance their learning abilities. In the next two years, we concentrate on improving their math skills. We also help develop their personal and professional skills like communication and time management. Our program also includes character education. We ensure parental involvement through counselling sessions and child performance reviews.

  • NumberWiz

    District

    State

    NumberWiz is a two-year subset of the 4 line programme to build a strong foundation in Mathematics for marginalised children in grades 5 and 6. Currently, we are collaborating with 4 schools, equipping 14 teachers to train 190 children. The NumberWiz programme spans 4 levels.

    Level 1: Introduction to Abacus (7 months)
    The children build their foundational numeracy skills.

    Level 2: Introduction to Mental Arithmetic (4 months)
    The children do basic mental additions and subtractions and master 2-digit by 1-digit multiplication using the abacus tool.

    Level 3: Advanced Mental Calculations (4 months)
    The children perform advanced mental additions and subtractions, master 2-digit by 1-digit mental multiplication, work with decimal numbers and do simple divisions using the abacus tool.

    Level 4: Beyond Arithmetic (5 months)
    The children master advanced mental additions and subtractions of decimal numbers, do advanced mental multiplication and division, and solve applied arithmetic problems.

Impact Metrics

  • Percentage of Children Who Score a Minimum of 40% in Maths in the Grade 5 Final Exam

    Program Name

    NumberWiz

    Year-wise Metrics
    • 2022-23 54
    • 2023-24 89

  • Percentage of Children Who Score a Minimum Aggregate of 50% in All Subjects in the Grade 6 Final Exam

    Program Name

    NumberWiz

    Year-wise Metrics
    • 2022-23 41
    • 2023-24 63

Leadership Team

  • Dr. George Samuel

    Founder and President

  • Mrs. Mini V R

    Master Trainer

  • Reni K Jacob

    Consultant - Program

  • Mrs. Anne Elizabeth Samuel

    Project Manager

  • Mrs. Sajitha G Menon

    Project Officer

  • Leejoe Varghese

    Consultant - Fundraising

  • Tancy Thomas

    Project Coordinator

Demographics & Structure

  • No. of Employees

    0-5

M&E

  • Internal, External Assessors

    No

Policies

  • Ethics and Transparency Policies

    No

  • Formal CEO Oversight & Compensation Policy

    No

Political & Religious Declarations

  • On Affiliation if any

    No

  • On Deployment Bias if any

    No

Registration Details

  • PAN Card

    AAATV1873E

  • Registration ID

    426/92

  • VO ID / Darpan ID

    KL/2019/0247660

  • 12A

    AAATV1873EE20210

  • 80G

    AAATV1873EF20226

  • FCRA

    Not Available

  • CSR Registration Number

    CSR00038331

Location

Other Details

  • Type & Sub Type

    Non-profit
    Trust

Website

Financial Details

 Income / Expenses

  • 2022-23

    Income
    Rs.None
    Expenses
    Rs.
    Admin Expenses
    Rs.None
    Program Expenses
    Rs.None
    Tip: Click on any value above to exclude it.

  • 2023-24

    Income
    Rs.439,921
    Expenses
    Rs.313,352
    Admin Expenses
    Rs.58,403
    Program Expenses
    Rs.254,949
    Tip: Click on any value above to exclude it.
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