Garima Batra
Partner
New Delhi
We are facing a global learning crisis: the state of education is a long way from where it needs to be to promote high-quality learning for all students. BCG works with K–12 school systems to improve educational outcomes, ensure equity, and prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow.
A lot is being asked of today’s K–12 education systems. To help students master the skills necessary for success in a rapidly changing job market, school districts and governments must continuously ensure the quality of their teaching workforce and equip schools and teachers with improved curricula—often in the face of budget cuts. The pandemic has only heightened these challenges, disrupting K–12 education around the world and exposing deep inequities.
At the same time, however, innovative technologies and approaches are creating new opportunities for K–12 education. Personalized learning, digital tools, and so-called wraparound support programs—with an emphasis on nutrition, after-school tutoring, health and mental health services, and college preparation—are delivering individualized student experiences and ensuring that children have the necessary support to learn and thrive.
BCG’s framework brings together everyone in the local education ecosystem—school operators, businesses, local and national partners—and creates a team that is committed to improving student outcomes. It then incorporates five elements to create the right context for change:
Riyadh Schools in Saudi Arabia used BCG’s closed-loop instructional system to transform itself from a traditional pen-and-paper school to a 21st-century leader in education. The school quickly realized significant improvement in student engagement and attendance, with 95% of all teachers meeting technology-integration targets during initial assessments.
In India, BCG helped the state leadership of Haryana improve learning outcomes for students while realizing a 15% budgetary savings within its 15,000 schools. BCG delivered a multiyear Quality Improvement Programme for the state that has turned around once-declining literacy and numeracy rates and become a model for other regions.
Closing the Digital Divide
BCG—in partnership with Common Sense Media, EducationSuperHighway and Southern Education Foundation—launched a series of reports on closing the digital divide for K-12 students in the US.
Seema Bansal is forging a path to public education reform for 15,000 schools in Haryana, India, with an ambitious goal: by 2020, 80% of children should have grade-level knowledge. She’s looking to meet this goal by seeking creative, straightforward reforms that will work in every school without additional resources.
A remote-learning initiative in India suggests that smartphones could offer a low-cost solution to the digital education divide.
School districts must close the gap between the engaging, relevant, and hands-on training that teachers and administrators want and the reality of disengagement with collaborative training on the ground.
School leaders had little time to prepare for the crisis. Careful scenario planning can help them weather the closures and reopen from a position of strength.
Planning for succession starts with recognizing that it will be one of the most complicated transitions experienced by a family business. BCG has identified ten principles to guide the process and enable the business to thrive into the future.
