What Transform Schools does

Transform Schools, operating under the legal entity People For Action (PFA), is an Indian non-profit organization founded in 2019 that designs and delivers secondary-education improvement programmes for government schools. Headquartered in New Delhi with field offices in Bhubaneswar and Kolkata, the organization targets students in grades 7 through 10, alongside teachers, school leaders, and state education systems. Its programme portfolio includes Transform Learning (flagship), Transform Teaching, Foundational Secondary Literacy Programme (FSLP), Transform PARity, Critical Thinking, Back-to-School, Science Capital, the open-source Assessment and Learning Tool (ALT) deployed on the national DIKSHA platform, the Dropout and Future Decline (DFD) predictive analytics product, and the more recent Learning Equaliser Programme.

The organization's underlying technology stack is anchored by two proprietary digital products. ALT is an open-source web application integrated with DIKSHA — India's national government education technology platform — enabling direct distribution into government school infrastructure without commercial sales cycles. DFD applies machine learning algorithms to predict dropout risk and learning decline, generating data assets that inform both programme design and state policy engagement. The organization also operates the VIRAM learning assessment framework, producing standardized measurement across its programme footprint.

Transform Schools operates a non-profit revenue model with three distinct funding streams. Foundation grants from international and domestic funders — including Kusuma Trust, Echidna Giving, Central Square Foundation, and the World Bank — anchor core programme funding. Corporate CSR grants from BT Group, Qualcomm, Bajaj Finserv, and Paradeep Phosphates provide supplementary capital. Government service contracts are delivered through a separate entity, The Transform Trust (T3), enabling fee-for-service engagement with state education departments. Since 2019, the organization reports reaching 12.8 million children, 181,000 teachers, and 83,000 schools across eight priority states, with a stated target of 30 million children reached by 2030.

Name

Transform Schools

Legal name

People For Action (PFA)

Website

https://transformschools.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Transform Schools (People For Action) is an Indian non-profit founded in 2019 that designs secondary-education programmes and tech-enabled tools (ALT, DFD) for government schools, serving students grades 7-10, teachers, and state education departments across eight Indian states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Alternative Education & Dropout Prevention / Re-Engagement Programs (EDANAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Communication & Family Engagement Platforms (Messaging, Portals, Translation) (EDAJAMAI)

Keywords

• Secondary education programmes
• Teacher professional development
• School leadership training
• Education data analytics
• Dropout prevention services

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Grants and Donations: Transform Schools (People For Action) receives national and international grants from foundations and donors including Kusuma Trust, Echidna Giving, Central Square Foundation, World Bank, and others. This forms the primary funding for programme design, testing, and innovation.
2. Government Service Contracts: Transform Trust (T3) competes for payment for services contracts with state governments for programme implementation. Revenue earned by scaling proven models through government adoption and co-implementation.
3. Corporate CSR Grants: Partnerships with corporations including BT Group, Qualcomm, Bajaj Finserv, Paradeep Phosphates, and others who provide CSR funding for specific programmes like Transform Learning, Transform PARity, Back to School, and Science Capital.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Transform Schools partners with Indian state governments to design, test, and scale evidence-based secondary education programmes, including targeted instruction (Transform Learning), teacher professional development, school leadership training, gender empowerment, and dropout re-enrolment. The organization complements these programmes with proprietary open-source technology platforms — Accelerated Learning via Tech (ALT) and Data For Decisions (DFD) — and delivers implementations through government school systems.

Product overview

Transform Schools is an education-focused NGO that operates a portfolio of interconnected programmes for secondary school education in India. The core offering is Transform Learning, a targeted instruction programme proven by J-PAL RCT to add 0.4-1.5 years of learning gains. This is complemented by Transform Teaching (teacher professional development) and Future School Leadership Programme (school leader training) for system strengthening. The suite includes specialised interventions: Transform PARity (gender equity), Critical Thinking/Masti Ki Paathshaala (at-home learning), Back To School (re-entry support), Science Capital (STEM for girls), and Sahitya Srujani (creative literacy). Technology-enabled offerings include Accelerated Learning via Tech (ALT) - an inclusive open-source web application with adaptive content and dashboards - and Data For Decisions (DFD) - a data analytics system using predictive analytics and Machine Learning for evidence-based programme management. The recently launched Learning Equaliser Programme pilots combined targeted instruction with gender-responsive approaches.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Transform Learning: Targeted instruction model to address cumulative learning loss and prepare students for grade-level learning. 200+ hour programme delivered by trained government teachers.
• Future School Leadership Programme (FSLP)
• Transform Teaching
• Back To School (BTS)
• Transform PARity
• Critical Thinking (Masti Ki Paathshaala)
• Science Capital
• Accelerated Learning via Tech (ALT)
• Data For Decisions (DFD)

Products and services

• Transform Learning Flagship 200+ hour targeted instruction programme that bridges foundational and prerequisite learning gaps for secondary school students in Indian government schools, delivered during school hours by trained government teachers using competency-based assessments and mastery learning; RCT-validated by J-PAL to deliver 0.4-1.5 years of additional learning in 50 hours.
• Transform Teaching Two-year professional development programme for government school teachers to strengthen subject-matter expertise, pedagogical practices, and classroom management, delivered through training sessions, self-learning modules, coaching, and peer networks as part of state in-service teacher training.
• Future School Leadership Programme (FSLP) 80-100 hour professional development programme spread across a year for school leaders that strengthens leadership and management capacities across Strategic, Managerial, and Academic dimensions, enabling Head Teachers to improve school standards, governance, and management.
• Transform PARity 10-day programme using Participatory Action and Reflection (PAR) workshops to enable adolescent girls to understand gender barriers and challenge patriarchy, addressing knowledge, attitude, belief, and practice (KABP) changes in girls and surrounding community actors.
• Critical Thinking (Masti Ki Paathshaala) At-home 12-hour self-paced learning programme for students aged 10-16 delivered during summer breaks, festival holidays, and pandemic school closures, building critical thinking, logical reasoning, comprehension, problem-solving, and foundational capacities in languages and science through experiential activities.
• Back To School (BTS) Community-based bridge learning programme that identifies out-of-school and at-risk students (grades 7-9) and supports their re-entry into mainstream education through targeted instruction, using the VIRAM tool for dropout risk identification based on socio-economic factors.
• Accelerated Learning via Tech (ALT) Inclusive, open-source web application and digital public good that delivers blended versions of Transform Schools programmes. Provides adaptive and personalised content, teacher dashboards, and student-facing tools designed for low-resource and low-digital-access environments, built on the Government of India's DIKSHA infrastructure.
• Data For Decisions (DFD) Technology system supporting data collection, management, and analysis using advanced statistical analysis and predictive analytics with Machine Learning algorithms. Provides actionable insights and dashboards for teachers, Head Teachers, and administrators, and applies Learning Engineering principles to support programme implementation quality and student outcomes.
• Science Capital 70-hour gender-transformative school-based learning programme for adolescent girls in classes 8-10 using activity-based experiential learning, including DIY Classes, STEM clubs, and Role Model sessions with women in STEM careers to build aspirations for STEM in higher education.
• Sahitya Srujani Creative literacy programme reaching 1 million students with creative literacy inputs, introducing interactive learning, storytelling, and poetry writing methodologies to enhance language skills and student engagement.
• Learning Equaliser Programme Pilot programme combining targeted instruction and participatory methods to improve learning outcomes and life skills for adolescents, using a gender-transformative approach to equip students with gender-responsive academic skills; currently being tested in Odisha, Kolkata, and Mulugu in Telangana.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 1.5 years of additional learning in 50 hours of targeted instruction (RCT by J-PAL South Asia 2019-20)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• J-PAL South AsiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducted RCT evaluation of Transform Learning programme in 2019-20, validating 0.4-1.5 years of additional learning gains. Provides research credibility and evidence-based approach.
• MIGHTY ALLYsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsulting partner that helped develop new Theory of Change document.
• I.G. AdvisorssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsulting partner that helped develop new Theory of Change document.
• Pratham USAsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration at Skoll World Forum on secondary education. Learning from Pratham's TARL model which revolutionized foundational learning.
• PEAS (Promoting Equality in African Schools)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-leading State of Secondary Education (SOSE) collaborative. Partnership to raise secondary education up the global agenda.
• Global Schools ForumsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-leading State of Secondary Education (SOSE) collaborative - global systems-change initiative for secondary education.
• Government of India DIKSHAcoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital infrastructure platform used to deliver educational content through the Government of India's DIKSHA platform.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Quest Alliance: Indian education NGO focused on K-12 system strengthening and youth empowerment. Similar mission of partnering with state governments to improve learning outcomes and teacher capacity, with overlapping target geographies.
• STIR Education: Indian education NGO focused on teacher development and school improvement. Comparable in target beneficiaries (government school teachers), operating geography (India), and government partnership approach.
• Educational Initiatives: India-based EdTech company providing K-12 learning assessments, personalized learning, and school improvement solutions. Comparable product offering in assessment and analytics for government schools.
• Pratham: India's largest education NGO with similar K-12 focus on government schools. Pratham's TARL model pioneered the targeted instruction approach that Transform Learning builds upon, and the two organizations collaborate at Skoll World Forum. Highly comparable in mission, scale, and government partnership model.
• ASER Centre: India-based learning assessment organization (part of Pratham ecosystem). Comparable in building evidence base for Indian K-12 education outcomes and providing state-level assessment infrastructure.
• Peepul: UK-India based education NGO focused on teacher training, school leadership development, and government partnerships. Closely comparable in programme design, target audience, and cross-border operating model.

Broad incumbents

• Teach For India: Larger, established K-12 equity NGO operating across India with broader scope including fellowship-based leadership development. Comparable target population but operates at much larger scale with different intervention model.
• Bharti Foundation: Established Indian education foundation running Satya Bharti Schools and broader education programs. Comparable mission but operates schools directly rather than partnering with state systems.

Emerging players

• i-Saksham: Smaller Indian education NGO focused on rural youth education and livelihood skills. Overlaps in target geography and rural India focus but at much smaller scale and narrower scope.

Others

• Central Square Foundation: Major K-12 education foundation and ecosystem actor in India; both funder and direct program operator. Comparable in shaping Indian K-12 education ecosystem, though primarily in a funder capacity rather than direct implementation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TransformEdu_
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCcE7lIf0z97KFsVT-WxAWmw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/transform-initiative-people-for-action
• Instagraminstagram.com/transformschools

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Transform Schools