In India’s vast and complex education landscape, meaningful change often begins in the earliest years of learning. At the heart of this transformation is the Madhi Foundation, an organisation redefining how foundational education is delivered across government schools.
Founded in 2016 by social entrepreneur Merlia Shaukath, Madhi Foundation operates on a simple yet powerful belief: strengthening early learning is the most effective way to close long-term educational gaps.
A Purpose Rooted in Equity
Raised in Chennai in a family that valued both entrepreneurship and social impact, Shaukath was encouraged from a young age to channel her privilege toward public good. With academic experience from the London School of Economics and the University of Oxford, she returned to India determined to build solutions that could scale.
Her early career at Teach For India, where she was among the first team members, exposed her to the realities of classroom learning and system-level challenges. This experience laid the groundwork for her vision: not just improving education in pockets, but transforming entire systems.
Focusing on What Matters Most: Foundational Learning
Madhi Foundation works at the intersection of policy and implementation, focusing exclusively on primary education. Its programs aim to strengthen:
Language and literacy
Numeracy skills
Social emotional learning
By placing the child at the centre, the organisation collaborates closely with government institutions, educators, and parents ensuring change is both systemic and sustainable.
Navigating Challenges in Systemic Change
Driving reform within large public systems is not without challenges. Competing priorities, bureaucratic complexities, and the need for patient, long-term funding often slow progress.
Yet, Madhi Foundation has built strong partnerships with organisations such as the Gates Foundation, Central Square Foundation, and The/Nudge Institute partners who understand that lasting change requires time and persistence.
Looking Beyond One State
After nearly a decade of focused work in Tamil Nadu, Madhi Foundation is now expanding its model to other regions, including Meghalaya and Nagaland.
The organisation is also developing digital tools powered by AI, designed to support education systems at scale. These innovations are intended to become public goods, enabling wider adoption across India’s education ecosystem.
On the community side, Madhi aims to grow its parent engagement initiatives from 20,000 to 3 million families over the next five years recognising that learning extends far beyond the classroom.
A Vision for India’s Education Future
Today, Madhi Foundation works with over 38,000 schools, steadily building a blueprint for systemic reform.
Its vision is clear:
an education system where every child is at the centre, and every decision supports their learning and well-being.
If scaled nationally, this model could redefine the future of public education in India making it more effective, equitable, and resilient.
