Why India and
South Africa?
South Africa continues to grapple with the legacy of colonialism and apartheid, which touch every aspect of society, including the country’s education system. Youth unemployment rates are extremely high¹ and societal unrest increasingly evident over recent years.
In India, one of the fastest growing economies in the world, inequality sits parallel to this growth, meaning it has one of the least equal societies globally. This wealth gap has been rising sharply for the last three decades, with women and children disproportionately affected.
Both countries are feeling the impact of climate change, with extreme weather events increasing in frequency and ferocity, and those on the margins of society often most impacted.
While universal access to education has been achieved, poor learning outcomes in the foundational and primary stages remain a significant concern in both countries, highlighting the deep-rooted challenges which permeate their education systems and prevent children reaching their full potential.
The opportunities
Although our goal is the same for India and South Africa, we have different priorities for each country. This allows us to respond to the unique challenges each education system faces, within the context of differing funding landscapes.
In both contexts there is a shift in focus by governments, funders, and civil society, from educational access to quality. India’s National Education Plan 2020 offers robust guidelines for transforming the education landscape – including reforms to strengthen foundational learning and teacher training outcomes. In South Africa the national discourse is increasingly focused on establishing key foundational building blocks. In both countries, readiness for school is a government priority and proactive measures are being taken to make a year of formal preschooling an official requirement.
Each country has a thriving philanthropic ecosystem and highly tuned networks of academics, educationalists and thought leaders. There are significant opportunities for impact working with and through these channels.
Following our decision to sunset the Maitri Trust by April 2028, our geographic focus will remain unchanged throughout this period.
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