Airtel strengthens partnership with Army to enhance educational outcomes in Goodwill Schools

Srinagar : Bharti Airtel Foundation and the Northern Command of the Indian Army have reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing education for children in Jammu & Kashmir through the Army Goodwill Schools (AGS) Program. This collaboration was highlighted during a high-level meeting on February 23, attended by Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma and. Binu Nair.
The partnership has been active for over nine years, focusing on improving teacher capacity and student opportunities within the AGS ecosystem. In the next phase of their engagement, the Bharti Airtel Foundation will introduce professional development courses for AGS educators via TheTeacherApp, a digital platform aimed at continuous teacher growth. These courses will align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and will include in-person training sessions alongside ongoing digital access. The program will emphasize foundational literacy and numeracy, enhance teachers’ confidence in using digital tools, and support school-based professional learning. Additionally, the meeting resulted in the decision to establish Career Counselling Cells in AGS, which will provide students with guidance on academic planning and exposure to various higher education and vocational options. This initiative aims to empower students from underserved communities to make informed decisions about their futures. The partnership will also focus on engaging AGS students in emerging technology fields such as Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, preparing them for future workforce demands. Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma emphasized the importance of the Army Goodwill Schools in Jammu & Kashmir and the positive impact of the collaboration with Bharti Airtel Foundation on both teacher development and student opportunities. Mr. Binu Nair reiterated the shared vision of providing quality education and meaningful pathways for every child, highlighting the significance of initiatives like TheTeacherApp and career counselling systems. To commemorate their ongoing collaboration, a memento was presented to Lieutenant General Sharma, along with the Foundation’s Annual Report for 2024–25, detailing their capacity-building efforts for AGS.