Project DIISHA

District-Level FLN Transformation Model, Thane 2024-25

Overview

Project DIISHA was a district-level initiative implemented in Thane to strengthen Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) among primary school students. Led by Zilla Parishad Thane in collaboration with VOPA, and aligned with NEP 2020 and Mission NIPUN Bharat, it introduced a technology-enabled, evidence-based approach to learning improvement. Project DIISHA served as a proof of concept for a scalable FLN improvement model, which later informed the design of Mission NIPUN Maharashtra.

The Problem

At the start of the project, approximately 80% of students in Thane were unable to read grade-level text. Assessments were manual, delayed, and non-actionable. Teachers spent significant time on data recording instead of teaching, and there was no reliable system to measure real learning levels or track student progress. This highlighted the need for a mission-mode, system-level intervention.

The Solution

Project DIISHA introduced a digital FLN assessment and improvement system using the V-School platform. A complete database of schools, students, teachers, and supervisory personnel was created at the outset. For subsequent monthly rounds, a one-click assessment design saved significant time and effort for both teachers and students. Key components included AI-enabled Oral Reading Fluency (ORF) assessment with audio evidence, monthly FLN assessments for every student in Grades 2-5, real-time dashboards at school, cluster, block, and district levels, personalised learning improvement plans for each student, continuous teacher training, and structured engagement with parents and School Management Committees. The system shifted the focus from data collection to actionable insights.

Implementation

The project was implemented at district scale within a short period, covering approximately 73,000 students across 1,300 plus schools in Thane district. To remove teacher-wise subjectivity in assessments, a dedicated supervisory team of 180 officers was constituted and visited each school on a predefined schedule to cross-check assessments. A total of 10,250 supervisory cross-check assessments were conducted. Over nine months, 32 lakh plus data points were analysed and 98% student participation in monthly assessments was achieved. AI-enabled ORF was introduced as the next step to further eliminate subjectivity at scale. The project demonstrated that large-scale, continuous learning assessment is operationally feasible within public systems.

Scale & Reach

~73,000

Students covered

1,300+

Schools onboarded

3,000+

Teachers trained

32 Lakh+

Data points analysed

180

Supervisory officers deployed

10,250

Supervisory cross-check assessments

Partnerships

Zilla Parishad Thane

Lead government partner and implementation authority

SCERT Maharashtra

Adopted the model and scaled statewide as Mission NIPUN Maharashtra

Impact

Approximately 14% increase in students achieving grade-level reading proficiency over the project period.

Improved accuracy in identifying actual learning levels across the district.

Shift from delayed reporting to real-time decision-making at school, cluster, block, and district levels.

Reduction in teacher workload related to assessments through digital tools.

Strengthened monitoring and accountability mechanisms across Thane's education system.

Model adopted by SCERT Maharashtra and scaled statewide as Mission NIPUN Maharashtra, now reaching 65,000 plus schools and 38 lakh students.

Case Story

From District Pilot to Statewide Transformation

Project DIISHA began as a district-level proof of concept in Thane, testing whether AI-enabled FLN assessment could work within a government system at scale. The model proved that large-scale, continuous learning assessment is operationally feasible. Its success directly shaped Mission NIPUN Maharashtra, which today operates across 65,000 plus schools and 38 lakh students. Thane district became a foundational district in Maharashtra's FLN transformation journey.