When we talk about transforming education, we tend to focus on curriculum and teaching methods. But the spaces in which students learn—classrooms, art rooms, and playgrounds—play an equally pivotal role. Schools with strong infrastructure improvement not only foster academic growth, but also nurture emotional well-being, safety, and a sense of belonging.
A well-designed learning environment can reduce absenteeism, increase school enrolment, especially among girls, and empower youth to engage fully with their education. Efforts to build better learning spaces are central to any school transformation program aiming for holistic development in education.
What Is the State of School Infrastructure in Rural India?
Before exploring stories of change, let’s look at rural schools in India:
- According to UDISE+ 2024-25, 93.6% of schools have electricity, 99.3% have access to safe drinking water. (Source: Education for All in India)
- Sanitation improvements: girls’ toilets are in 97.3% of schools, boys’ toilets are in 96.2%, handwashing facilities in 95.9% of schools.
- Digital access is increasing: 64.7% of schools have computers, and 63.5% now have internet connectivity.
- However, challenges persist: playgrounds are present in about 83%, libraries are in 89.5% of schools.
These facts show that while broad infrastructural improvement is underway, gaps remain—especially in digital literacy, play areas, and rural regions where resources are more constrained.
Beyond Bricks and Mortar: Why Environment Shapes Learning
How does improved infrastructure translate into better educational outcomes?
Some insights:
- Attendance & enrolment: Sanitary facilities, clean toilets, separate amenities for girls, and accessible facilities all correlate with increased school admissions and retention— especially for female students. (Source: The Indian Express)
- Digital literacy & learning opportunities: Having computers and internet access in schools opens up STEM education, online research, and exposure to wider knowledge, helping students compete globally.
- Motivation & safety: When classrooms are well-maintained, there are safe spaces for mid-day meals, hygiene stations, playgrounds, wall art, and engaging learning materials, students feel more comfortable and excited to attend.
- Inclusivity: Ramp access, separate toilets, handwashing stations support students with disabilities, girls with special needs, and promote equal participation.
“How does good school infrastructure help rural education and digital literacy?” The answer lies in both the hard infrastructure and the softer aspects of environment.
The Transformation of Doddashivara High School, Kolar District
Here’s a real-life example of what happens when a school transformation program is implemented well:
Before the change
Doddashivara Government High School in Malur Taluk of Kolar District, Karnataka, served about 190 students (105 girls, 85 boys) with 12 teachers. Many of them came from underprivileged backgrounds with limited alternatives for education. But the school infrastructure was seriously deficient:
- No separate toilets for boys and girls.
- Absence of a hygienic kitchen for midday meals.
- No handwashing facilities.
- No safe or usable playground; classrooms were inadequate.
These deficits posed major educational challenges: attendance dropped, students felt unsafe or uncomfortable, and the learning environment was uninspiring.
Transformation under the Rural School Transformation Project
S M Sehgal Foundation, with support from First American (India) Private Limited, stepped in with a holistic plan:
- Build separate toilet blocks for boys and girls.
- Create a hygienic kitchen and dining hall.
- Install handwashing stations.
- Upgrade classrooms.
- Level the ground to make the playground safe and usable.
- Add educational wall paintings (stimulating and pedagogical).
- Upgrade electrification to support digital learning tools.
Impact & Voices
“Earlier we used to struggle without proper toilets, but now I feel comfortable and safe in school. We have a clean place to sit and eat, and even our walls teach us through colorful paintings that arise our curiosity to learn and explore.” – Abhishek M, Grade 8
“We had broken toilets, no proper handwashing station. . . . Today, students come to school with a smile . . . The new infrastructure has boosted student attendance, improved hygiene, and increased parents’ trust . . . ”- Mrs. Mamatha, headmaster
The result of this school transformation is not just physical; it is emotional and behavioral. Improved enrolment is expected; more parents are trusting the institution; academic performance will rise in coming years given the safer, more engaging learning space.
Key Elements of an Effective Learning Environment
From national data and the Doddashivara example, effective school infrastructure improvement measures typically include:
- Safe & Hygienic Facilities: Separate boys’ and girls’ toilets; functioning handwashing stations; clean water; hygienic dining spaces.
- Inclusive Infrastructure: Ramps, accessible buildings, facilities for disabled students; girl-friendly amenities; gender-sensitive design.
- Digital Enablement & STEM Education: Electricity; computer labs, internet access, use of digital tools, exposure to STEM subjects.
- Spaces for Play & Creativity: Playgrounds, open areas; wall art, spaces where physical activity or arts can flourish.
- Aesthetic & Engaging Learning Atmosphere: Educational wall paintings, clean and well-lit classrooms, inspiring visuals, student-friendly layouts.
- Community Participation & School Management Committees: When parents, teachers, students, and communities contribute via School Management Committees (SMCs), maintenance, ownership, and relevance of the improvements increase.
The Power of Partnerships: NGOs, Corporates, and Communities
Transforming schools requires collaboration. Some ways these partnerships make a difference:
- NGO involvement brings expertise in implementation, community mobilization, and ensuring that school transformation is sustainable.
- Corporate support / CSR engagement is increasingly important: companies are allocating funds to education and infrastructure improvement. For example, in FY 2024, many state CSR efforts prioritized school infrastructure as a key area. (Source: The Times of India )
- Government schemes like Samagra Shiksha, PM SHRI, etc., provide backing for digital literacy, school infrastructure, teacher training, etc.
The Rural School Transformation Project of SM Sehgal Foundation and First American (India) is an example of a project that integrates these partnership strengths to achieve holistic change.
Measurable Impact: What the Numbers Say
- Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in middle school rose to 90.3%, and in secondary level to 68.5% in 2024-25. (Source: NDTV)
- Dropout rates have decreased: for example, secondary level dropouts, and preparatory levels show improvements.
- Infrastructure improvements: computer availability up to 64.7%, internet access 63.5%, nearly all schools have drinking water, toilets, electricity.
These changes contribute to higher school admissions and enrolments and improved learning outcomes, especially in rural education settings where deficits were previously pronounced.
Lessons from Doddashivara: Building Sustainable Change
From the Doddashivara transformation and national data, some lessons emerge:
- Plan holistically: Sanitary facilities, classrooms, playgrounds, digital infrastructure and aesthetics deliver more impact than piecemeal improvements.
- Engage community & School Management Committees: cal ownership ensures maintenance, safety, and continuous upkeep.
- Ensure digital literacy & STEM education support: Infrastructure without enabling tools or trained teachers limits impact.
- Monitor outcomes: Track attendance, enrolment, academic performance, hygiene, and satisfaction.
These lessons help in scaling similar models across rural schools, making transforming schools not just a slogan but a practical roadmap for transforming the lives of schoolchildren.
Building a Future Where Every Child Thrives
Transforming education is far more than updating curriculum or hiring teachers. School infrastructure improvement plays a foundational role in empowering youth, supporting rural education, and tackling educational challenges that hinder academic progress.
The story of Doddashivara High School under the Rural School Transformation Project shows that when underprivileged students gain access to clean toilets, safe classrooms, digital tools, and inspiring spaces, everything changes for the better. Increased school admissions, rising attendance, and smiling students are the signs of true transformation.
In the end, transforming schools into better learning spaces is not only about buildings—it is about providing every child with dignity, safety, opportunity, and hope. Through such holistic development in education, a nation builds its future.
Priya Chaudhary
Social Impact, CSR, and Gender & Development
Priya Chaudhary is an expert in Social Impact, CSR, and Gender & Development with a focus on gender equity, social inclusion, and evidence-based change. With extensive experience in project management, storytelling, and qualitative research, she has worked on various NGO marketing and development projects.
FAQs
Transforming school infrastructure enhances the learning experience by creating safe, clean, and inspiring spaces. Well-maintained classrooms, hygienic toilets, proper lighting, and digital tools help students concentrate better. Infrastructure improvement also boosts attendance and participation, particularly among girls. A comfortable environment nurtures curiosity, confidence, and motivation—key elements for holistic development in education.
In many rural schools, inadequate facilities limit student engagement and teacher performance. Improving school infrastructure, such as classrooms, toilets, and digital learning tools, encourages higher enrolment and retention. These improvements make schools safer, more inclusive, and conducive to learning, helping to bridge the rural-urban education gap while empowering youth through better opportunities and confidence in their education.
The Rural School Transformation Project focuses on upgrading infrastructure and learning environments in schools. It supports safe sanitation, digital access, playgrounds, and aesthetic classrooms. This initiative by S M Sehgal Foundation and First American (India) demonstrates how collaborative efforts can revitalize rural education, enhance school admissions, and promote holistic growth among students and communities.
Digital literacy equips students with essential skills to thrive in the modern world. When rural schools gain access to computers, internet, and digital classrooms, students explore STEM education, online learning, and problem-solving tools. This digital inclusion forms a vital part of transforming education by expanding opportunities, building confidence, and enabling students to learn beyond textbooks.
School Management Committees (SMCs) are vital for ensuring accountability and sustainability. They include parents, teachers, and community members who monitor infrastructure maintenance, student welfare, and teaching quality. Active SMCs encourage local participation in decision-making, ensure funds are used effectively, and strengthen the long-term success of school transformation programs across rural communities.
Partnerships between NGOs, corporates, and local authorities enable large-scale infrastructure improvement. Corporates provide funding through CSR initiatives, while NGOs bring community insight and implementation expertise. Together, they address educational challenges such as sanitation, digital literacy, and safe learning spaces, ensuring lasting impact and creating inspiring models for other schools under national transformation schemes.
Improved facilities, such as clean toilets, dining halls, and well-lit classrooms, make students feel safe and valued, reducing absenteeism. In particular, girl students attend regularly when sanitation facilities are adequate. Such improvements lead to higher school enrolment, increased retention rates, and improved academic performance, all of which contribute to a more equitable and empowering education system.
Holistic development in education ensures children grow intellectually, emotionally, socially, and physically. Transforming schools into engaging learning spaces supports this balance through STEM education, play areas, art, and digital tools. Students learn teamwork, creativity, and empathy alongside academics, preparing them for life beyond the classroom and empowering them to lead their communities confidently.
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