The Prepare Not Repair programme has been developed by Akshara Foundation to offer quality pre-school education through the government’s ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services) network. The anganwadi worker is responsible for delivering a large number of services in the community. With so many responsibilities, it was found that the structured learning activities for pre-schoolers was not given due importance.

Akshara worked closely with the state government, and started this as a city-wide programme in Bangalore in 2009. The programme is based on Akshara’s long experience facilitating independent pre-primary centres (called ‘balwadis’) over the previous decade. Over the years since inception, it involved the nurturing of independent balwadis, the training of anganwadi workers, the provision of teaching and learning materials for anganwadis and balwadis, and the creation of a support and monitoring system to assist anganwadis and balwadis and track the performance of children.

The longer term objective of this effort is to ensure universal enrolment to primary schools and that children benefit from their early years of schooling – something that will serve them their entire lives. To achieve this, Akshara focuses on imparting school-readiness skills - through joyful learning.