Rocket Learning, a leading non-profit organisation focused on transforming early childhood education (ECE) in India, has demonstrated the immense potential of tech-driven solutions to deliver impactful, scalable, and highly cost-effective educational outcomes. Supported by rigorous evaluations from J-PAL (Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab) and detailed economic analyses, Rocket Learning currently reaches 3.2 million children across 10 Indian states, and through a rigorous RCT, has been shown to improve cognitive ability by 0.2 standard deviations in just 5 months of intervention. Remarkably, this significant impact has been achieved at an exceptionally low cost of only $1.17 per child, resulting in an extraordinary benefit-to-cost ratio of $1274 per child, generating close to $4 billion in projected economic impact.
Scaling Impact: A Proven Model:
Rocket Learning currently engages over 3.2 million children across 10 Indian states, underscoring the scalability and effectiveness of its innovative model. From 2021 to 2023, J-PAL independently evaluated Rocket Learning’s interventions in Amravati, Maharashtra, encompassing nearly 4,000 households and Anganwadi centers (government preschools).
The evaluation provided robust evidence of Rocket Learning’s ability to drive user engagement at scale, leading to measurable cognitive enhancements, especially in mathematics and language skills.
Quantifiable Learning Gains:
The rigorous evaluation documented substantial improvements in educational outcomes for participating children:
- Overall cognitive ability increased by 0.2 standard deviations (SD).
- Mathematics skills improved by 0.217 SD.
- Language skills improved by 0.154 SD.
These results underscore the efficacy of Rocket Learning’s combined digital and offline intervention model in significantly boosting foundational learning during early childhood.
Affordable and Sustainable Intervention:
Rocket Learning distinguishes itself through its highly affordable approach and long-term sustainability:
- Cost-Effectiveness: Rocket Learning’s comprehensive intervention costs just $1.17 per child, positioning it among the most economical and impactful early childhood programs globally. This cost encompasses field team salaries, digital infrastructure, printed educational materials, targeted call-based nudges, and administrative expenses.
Leveraging Behavioral Insights:
Rocket Learning strategically employs behavioural science techniques to ensure high levels of sustained engagement, including:
- Personalised digital nudges delivered through WhatsApp.
- Offline educator training and structured parent-educator conferences.
- Targeted phone-based outreach for families exhibiting lower engagement.
Institutionalisation for Long-Term Impact:
Rocket Learning secures ongoing sustainability and effectiveness by:
- Integrating its model into government frameworks, providing quarterly training sessions for 200,000 Anganwadi workers.
- Operating a dedicated 100-person call center to enhance parent and educator participation.
- Institutionalising regular parent-teacher conferences to foster a collaborative and community-driven educational environment.
Unpacking the Economic Impact:
The impressive benefit-to-cost ratio was informed by methods employed in a complementary J-PAL study conducted by leading economists Alejandro Ganimian (NYU), Karthik Muralidharan (UC San Diego) [who is also the lead investigator of Rocket Learning’s own RCT], and Christopher Walters (UC Berkeley). Their randomised controlled trial within India’s Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) framework evaluated the impacts of additional day care workers in Anganwadi centers across Tamil Nadu, closely mirroring Rocket Learning’s context. Below is a snapshot of the economic calculations from the above.
Leveraging global economic research, this analysis estimates a 13% increase in lifetime earnings for every 1 SD improvement in early childhood cognitive scores. Rocket Learning’s intervention, delivering an average increase of about 0.2 SD, translates into an estimated 2.6% lifetime earnings boost per child, which is calculated conservatively at around $42,000.
The detailed economic analyses reveal a remarkable benefit-to-cost ratio of $1274 per child, culminating in a total projected economic impact of close to $4 billion across its 3.2 million beneficiaries at a cost of only 1.17$ per child. This underscores how targeted investments in early education substantially improve immediate educational outcomes and generate profound long-term economic and societal benefits.
To learn more about our work, visit Rocket Learning’s website.