National award-winning actor Shefali Shah joins the P&G Shiksha movement to shine a spotlight on the #InvisibleGap in a child’s education

P&G Shiksha launches a nationwide movement to make invisible learning gaps visible, through a power-packed panel in Mumbai

Since its launch in 2005, P&G Shiksha has continued to make holistic educational interventions, impacting over 35 lakh children across the country

Mumbai, April 20, 2023: P&G Shiksha, the flagship CSR program of P&G India, today launched a first-of-its-kind nationwide movement to throw spotlight on a hidden issue called ‘Invisible Gap’, through a power packed panel deliberation in Mumbai. Studies indicate that students in schools often fall behind in keeping pace with their classes. One concept, one subject, one class, can give way to a larger issue where the child develops a gap in the fundamental conceptual understanding. When the child falls behind and the current learning level is not in line with the expected learning level as per the defined curriculum, an invisible learning gap is formed.

The discussion, centered around the theme of ‘Bridging Invisible Gaps’ and moderated by Priyanka Khanna, Author and Former Journalist, brought together Shefali Shah, National Award-Winning Actress, Girish Kalyanaraman, Vice President – Brand Operations, P&G India; Ritesh Agarwal, Assistant Vice President, Educational Initiatives; and Sagar Singh, Faculty Mathematics, Gov. High School Banah Ki Ser, Sirmour (HP). The panelists shared thought provoking insights to explain #invisibleGap, and how it significantly impacts children who perpetually keep trying to cope, and without the right support system drop out of school or face challenges in subsequent phases of life. They also discussed the role that key stakeholders, including teachers, corporates, and society could play in bridging these gaps and ensuring that every child in India learns with conceptual understanding. During the discussion, P&G Shiksha unveiled its new first-of-its kind campaign film which highlights the problem of ‘Invisible Gap’ through the thought-provoking story of Bindiya, a young girl who is impacted by the invisible gap and struggles to cope in the classroom.

P&G Shiksha, through the insightful discussion and the new film, aims to make this #InvisibleGap visible, by creating awareness and urging meaningful action to bridge the gap, which is impacting over 6* crore children in the country as indicated by the National Achievement Survey, 2021. While the program continues to drive on-ground interventions to bridge learning gaps in children, through the heart-warming story of Bindiya, it is urging the audience to take collective action and do their bit by taking the baseline test to identify learning gaps in children around them and take remedial measures to bridge it.

Speaking on the occasion, actor Shefali Shah remarked, “I believe that education is the key to unlocking a child’s full potential. I knew of how challenging education be for children, from my own personal experience and that with my kids, but this partnership with P&G Shiksha has made me cognizant of #InvisibleGaps in learning that impact a vast number of children, when they fall behind expected learning levels. It’s heartening to see P&G Shiksha is working towards not just making this invisible gap visible, but also bridging it with relevant on-ground interventions. Actions start with awareness, and I am glad that I can be a part of this journey with P&G Shiksha. When all of us play our part, we can help create an environment where every child is encouraged to achieve their full potential through holistic education.”

Speaking about the new film, Girish Kalyanaraman, Vice President – Marketing Operations, P&G India said, “P&G Shiksha has continued to work tirelessly to provide access to education to millions of underprivileged children since its inception 18 years ago. We are taking this journey forward through the first-of-its-kind campaign and story of Bindiya, with the objective of driving nationwide awareness and urging meaningful action around invisible gaps which are impacting crores of children in our country. Our aim is to highlight that what is often misunderstood as the child being naughty or disinterested in learning, may instead be a sign of the invisible gap that arises when children fall behind and their current learning level is not in line with the expected learning level.ends GNI SG