Asha Programs
SPRINT
SPRINT (Supporting Primary and Middle Schools in Nurturing Talent) is Asha's longest-running initiative, launched in 2004. Today, we operate in over 170 schools across Tamil Nadu and 15+ schools in Uttar Pradesh.
SPRINT was originally conceived in 2003-04 to address teacher shortages in government schools. The program began by placing regular teachers in under-resourced schools. In 2014, this expanded to include computer teachers, who not only teach computer science but also use carefully curated open source digital content and Asha developed content to enhance learning in other subjects.
Through SPRINT, Asha works closely with schools to help improve the overall quality of education by strengthening teaching, supporting students and creating engaging learning opportunities.
In addition, SPRINT includes MESL (Mathematics, English, Science and Logical Reasoning) activities, curated by Asha teachers, to supplement classroom learning through engaging, activity-based lessons.
SPRINT
At a Glance
170+
Schools
Across Tamil Nadu
180+
Computer Science
Schools Supported
56
Karadipath
Schools
800+
Student Projects
Presented Every Year
SPRINT
What SPRINT Does
Through SPRINT, Asha works closely with schools throughout the academic year to improve the overall quality of education by providing comprehensive support to students, teachers and schools.
Computer Science Education
Asha teaches Computer Science in over 180 schools through an activity-based 8-year curriculum that develops digital literacy, computational thinking and problem-solving skills.
Additional Teachers
In schools with a low teacher-student ratio, Asha appoints additional teachers to work alongside government teachers, ensuring students receive the attention and support they need.
Karadipath Programme
In collaboration with Karadi Tales, Asha runs the Karadipath programme to improve English language skills. The programme is currently active in 56 SPRINT schools.
Student Support
Asha supports students beyond the classroom through the distribution of uniforms and stationery, educational excursions, and assistance in celebrating school annual days with snacks and prizes.
Assessments
Asha conducts assessments in Mathematics, English, Tamil/Hindi and Computer Science to track student progress, measure learning outcomes, and evaluate the impact of the SPRINT programme.
Asha Impressions & Events
SPRINT hosts events such as Asha Impressions to broaden student exposure and provide a platform for children to showcase their projects, creativity and learning achievements.
SPRINT
Computer Science Education
Learn-by-Doing
Our curriculum emphasizes Learn-by-Doing. Every lesson is designed as an activity that the children will complete on the computer and, in the process, learn the concepts involved in the activity.
Digital Literacy & Computational Thinking
Our curriculum covers both digital literacy (how to use a computer) and computational thinking (programming and problem-solving with computers).
Designed for Every School
It is designed for schools with minimal infrastructure or unreliable internet access. In fact, many of the schools we support rely on the laptop that our teacher brings to class.
Asha Kanini Platform
Asha Chennai has developed Asha Kanini, a platform that enables teachers to easily access curated digital content aligned with their lesson plans. We also create our own resources, such as digital lesson plans, to fill gaps where existing content is insufficient.
Built for Scalability
Both Asha Kanini and our Computer Science curriculum have been developed with scalability in mind, allowing them to be expanded to schools across the state with government support.
SPRINT
Project Work
A key aspect of our pedagogy is the practical application of what is taught. Each year, students are required to use their knowledge to create and submit projects. Children from 4th and 5th standards prepare presentations using OpenOffice, while those in 7th and 8th standards develop programs in Scratch. These projects are team-based, with Asha teachers mentoring and guiding the students throughout the process. Selected projects are showcased at Asha Impressions, a platform for students to present their work.
The primary goal of project work is not assessment; it is a powerful teaching tool. Projects complement instruction-driven learning by fostering goal-oriented education. Students build the confidence to navigate and learn new tools on their own.
SPRINT
Asha Impressions
Two Asha Impressions events are held every year. During the Asha Impressions held in April 2025, we received over 800 project submissions from 120 schools across Thiruvallur, Thiruvarur, Thiruvannamalai and Chennai. From these, 31 outstanding projects were selected to participate in the Asha Impressions held in Chennai.
Finalists had the unique opportunity to present their work at the Central Lecture Theatre, IIT Madras. Students brought their ideas to life through poems, songs, dance, experiments, storytelling, handmade models and even acting. The judges were thoroughly impressed, making it incredibly difficult to choose the winners.