Dated: 11th March 2025
SIGMA Foundation has successfully conducted a comprehensive landscape study on the education, skilling, and employment of young women (15 to 29 years) in Maharashtra for Foundation to Educate Girls Globally. The study aims to assess the challenges and opportunities for young women who are Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET) and to explore viable pathways for their reintegration into the education system and workforce.
Educate Girls, through its Project Pragati, has adopted an innovative approach to addressing this issue by strengthening state open schools. The initiative focuses on providing alternative education routes for school dropouts, coupled with vocational training and life skills development. This model offers a cost-effective and accessible solution for young women compared to traditional interventions.
The study assesses the number of such women, evaluates demand and access to alternate schooling, the delivery of education services through open schools, and the key enablers and challenges affecting NEET women. It also presents a roadmap for increasing demand for secondary education among school dropouts and enhancing the capacity of the Open Schooling system to meet this demand through targeted advocacy and policy recommendations.
Using a mix of quantitative and qualitative research techniques, the study draws insights from secondary data sources and stakeholder consultations. The findings were compiled into a detailed report, which was submitted to Educate Girls. As part of the study’s outreach, Mr. Sangram Mukherjee, Senior Project Officer at SIGMA Foundation, presented key insights and recommendations to the officials from Department of School Education and Sport, Government of Maharashtra and State Council of Educational Research and Training, Maharashtra at Maharashtra Rajya Pariksha Parishad office at Pune.
This initiative marks a significant step toward expanding educational opportunities for young women, equipping them with the skills needed to transition into meaningful employment, and fostering long-term social and economic empowerment.