Coding confidence: How one government school redefined learning | Fusion - WeRIndia

At Indore’s Sandipani Naveen Malav Kanya School, innovation is no longer an experiment. It is a daily practice shaping how children learn, speak, and imagine their futures.

The transformation is visible from the morning assembly itself.

Students lead prayers, share news, and speak confidently before their peers.

In classrooms, girls create stories, games, and animations using tablets.

For a government school, this shift is striking. For parents, it has become a reason for trust.

At the heart of this change lies a structured push towards meaningful digital learning and student-led engagement.

Supported by Peepul Foundation, the school adopted a digital literacy programme designed for children with little or no exposure to technology.

Instead of rote instruction, students learn block-based coding, digital safety, and basic computer skills through hands-on activities. Technology enters the classroom as a tool for curiosity, not fear.

This innovation gained national recognition in 2025, when Sandipani School received the FICCI ARISE Excellence Award for its Digital Literacy programme.

The award validated what teachers and parents were already witnessing: higher engagement, stronger confidence, and visible learning outcomes.

The impact extends beyond screens. Initiatives like Bal Sansad allow students to run mock elections and take responsibility for governance roles.

Srijan events bring parents into school spaces to see science models, artwork, and coding projects presented by their children. Anand Sabha, a happiness-focused assembly, helps students reflect emotionally and build healthier relationships.

Together, these programmes have reshaped school culture. Attendance has improved. Classroom participation has increased. Students now speak without hesitation and take ownership of their learning.

The data reinforces this change. In Madhya Pradesh, the programme moved students from zero computer exposure to nearly 70% independently creating projects on Scratch.

Over 400 students participated in global coding events, with one student ranking 39th worldwide. What began in 100 schools has now scaled to more than 3,700 government schools across the state.

Teachers have evolved alongside students. Awareness of coding tools among educators rose from 3% to nearly 70% within two years.

More importantly, teachers now lead innovation themselves through academic, wellness, and leadership committees.

The deepest impact, however, lies in perception. Parents who once doubted government schools now watch their children explain digital projects with pride.

Sandipani School’s journey shows that when innovation focuses on confidence, curiosity, and capability, public education can become truly future-ready.

Image Credit: Roshan08.08, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ujjain_Indore_Highway.jpg