The Right to Education law in India guarantees free and compulsory schooling to all children up to Grade 8. However, for a variety of reasons (e.g distance, cost, access, socio-economic constraints and cultural barriers) millions of students drop out of school or discontinue their education across India. This phenomenon is even more pronounced for girls and young women, particularly in more remote, rural areas.

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Pratham’s Second Chance program is a low-cost, high value grassroots program focused on bringing disadvantaged girls and women back into the education system to complete their Grade 10 exams. Completing high school gives them employment opportunities and a way out of poverty. Their lives are improved, with benefits filtering over to their children, family, and the community. Since its inception in 2011 the program has impacted the lives of more than 36,000 girls and women. Learn more