Internship Assam – Central Square Foundation (CSF)

Central Square Foundation (CSF) Central Square Foundation is a nonprofit organization working with the vision of ensuring quality school education for all children in India. Since 2012, we have been partnering with the government, and ecosystem stakeholders to improve the learning outcomes of children, especially from low-income communities. We are driven by our mission to enable the school education system to adopt solutions that are scalable, sustainable and effective, so that all children get equal access to opportunities needed for leading a better life. CSF has prioritized 4 critical areas of work:

(1) Foundational Literacy & Numeracy (FLN)
(2) EdTech
(3) Early Childhood Education (ECE)
(4) Outcomes-based Governance

Read more about us at: Link

About the Outcomes-based Governance team
Over 80% schools in India do not have a grade X or XII1— the only grades conforming to standardized evaluations in most of the Indian states. The assessments in other grades are carried out by school authorities themselves, which means a school’s performance cannot be judged basis the results in these unstandardised tests. In this absence of a reliable system to measure learning outcomes at a school level, parents often end up opting for schools for their children on the basis of considerations like infrastructure, medium of instruction, fee etc; none of which are pertaining to the learning outcomes.

We believe that regulatory reforms based on a robust and reliable indicator of schools’ learning achievement will bring a new paradigm to governance that will course-correct for effective programmatic interventions, and solutions for the future.

NEP already calls out the conflict of interest when a single education department is running schools, making policies on how to run schools, as well as regulating those schools. It’s like a car maker who, aside from manufacturing car engines, is making policies around acceptable pollution norms, and also issuing a pollution-under-control certificate to its own cars! Industry wide there is a clear separation of powers for efficiency with an RBI separate from an SBI, an IRDAI separate from an LIC, or a TRAI separate from BSNL. Only when a separate regulator in school education gets institutionalized to govern both public and private schools alike, and its
regulations are made to be based on learning outcomes as measured by a consistent and trustworthy competency-based assessment, will the governance impediment to unlocking systemic reforms be removed.

At CSF, we look at specific governance-level reforms that focus on the measurement and accountability of schools in ensuring the learning outcomes get achieved. The work areas include:

(A)State School Standards Authority as a Specialized Regulatory Body: providing evidence-based knowledge in setting up a specialized body as an independent and neutral regulator for the sector, as laid out in the NEP 2020

(B)Competency-based Census Assessments (CCA) to Measure Outcomes in Schools: engaging with the state/national assessment bodies in implementing standardized competency-based census assessments to generate reliable and comparable learning outcomes data to measure performance of schools. School-level performance data shall be of no consequence (low stakes) for students, and will primarily be used for educating parents on outcomes and activating demand for quality.

Team: Outcomes-based Governance
Reporting to: Project Associate | Role: Intern | Location: Guwahati, Assam |
Experience range: Fresher / Undergraduate students completing their studies

Position Summary

We are seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic intern to join our Assam team in Guwahati and provide valuable support in our work in Assam. As an intern, you will have the opportunity to gain practical experience, contribute to meaningful government projects involving the state’s top bureaucracy and ministers, and work closely with our team members and top government officials. This position will primarily focus on research, coordination, and project support.

• The internship duration will be 3 months, which may be extended based on mutual consent
• You will get a monthly stipend

Key responsibilities

1. Research and Analysis:

• Assist in conducting research on school accreditation and regulations models in India and outside
• Build and disseminate the understanding around competency based large scale assessments, and its potential use in school quality accreditation and assurance
• Gather and analyze data to support decision-making processes in the running projects
• Prepare reports, presentations, and summaries based on research findings

2. Project Coordination:

• Collaborate with team members to ensure effective project coordination and timely deliverables
• Assist in organizing and scheduling meetings, maintaining project documentation, and tracking progress
• Participate in team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and contribute ideas to enhance project outcomes
• Assist in drafting and proofreading project-related communications, including emails, memos, and presentations

3. Adaptability and Learning:

• Adapt to changing priorities and project requirements to ensure flexibility and agility in work
• Proactively seek learning opportunities and take initiatives to enhance professional growth
• Embrace feedback and incorporate suggestions for continuous improvement

What would make you a good fit for the role

• Recent graduate, or currently pursuing a degree in any field
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks concurrently
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Proficient in conducting research, data analysis, and preparing reports
• Detail-oriented with strong problem-solving abilities
• Proficiency in using Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment
• Adaptability and willingness to take on new challenges and responsibilities
• Proficiency in Assamese language, both written and spoken, would be a strong asset (not mandatory)
• A brief overview of 3 months from now
• Professional Growth: After three months, the intern will have experienced significant professional growth, gaining hands-on experience, honing skills, and expanding their knowledge in the education sector.
• Networking Opportunities: The intern will have had the chance to collaborate with senior team members and engage with top government officials, building a strong professional network that can open doors for future career opportunities.
• Meaningful Contribution: Through their active involvement in projects, the intern will have played a tangible role in driving education reforms, making a meaningful impact and leaving a lasting impression in the field.

Please submit your resumes to gaurav.s@centralsquarefoundation.org, with a copy (cc) to shirin@centralsquarefoundation.org, mentioning “Internship Application – Guwahati” in the subject line.

Please Note that CSF is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or disability.