In the heart of Jalandhar, Edumust, a not-for-profit organisation, is scripting a silent digital revolution in government schools by empowering children with essential digital literacy skills. Since its inception in 2015, Edumust has worked to bridge the digital divide in government schools, aiming to provide students with the digital skills needed for a life of security and dignity.
From Health to Hardware: How It Started?
Initially focused on health, nutrition, and conducting summer camps for primary school children in government schools, Edumust shifted gears after identifying a major gap in digital education. “In many government schools—and even some private ones—there is no structured computer education from Class 1 to 5. By the time students in the government schools reach middle school, they are already five years behind,” said Amarjot Singh, Executive Director of Edumust and a former Teach For India Fellow and Program Manager.
He added, “The gap gets worse in Classes 6 to 8 due to outdated curriculum, non-functional infrastructure, and a severe shortage of trained teachers. Most schools still operate with obsolete Pentium 4 systems, absence of a structured digital curriculum exacerbates digital inequity, and even where computers exist, poor maintenance renders them useless.”
What Edumust is Doing Differently?
Edumust is bridging this critical gap through its targeted programs, offering supplementary computer literacy classes, training part-time teachers in digital literacy and 21st-century skills, and providing essential digital tools and a structured curriculum. The program is structured into two main stages. First is “Learn to Use a Computer”. Second is “Use a Computer to Learn”.
The Approach: Two Key Pillars
Resources
Digital Tools and Maintenance: Providing necessary equipment, ensuring its regular upkeep, furniture, and maintaining educational resources.
Edumust identifies schools lacking in computer facilities and installs 8–10 refurbished computers based on student strength. These systems are donated free of cost, and the organisation ensures their maintenance for as long as they are in use.
Curriculum Development: A structured curriculum focusing on essential computer literacy and 21st-century skills, tailored to meet student needs.
A unique digital literacy curriculum has been created for Classes 1 to 5, covering five developmental stages:
- Grade 1 – Existence Awareness: Basics of using a computer.
- Grade 2 – Navigational Awareness.
- Grade 3 – Control Awareness.
- Grade 4 – Capability Awareness.
- Grade 5 – Logical & Technological Awareness.
Students progress from simple mouse clicks and Paint, to learning MS Office, Canva, and even Scratch coding, gaining confidence in their digital abilities over time.
Programs
With these resources, Edumust runs two core programs:
Teacher Hiring & Training Programs: Focused on enhancing part-time teachers' digital literacy and 21st-century skills to improve learning outcomes.
The teaching model is just as transformative. Instead of hiring full-time teachers, Edumust employs local women and youth from the same communities as facilitators. These are usually married women or 12th-pass girls looking for part-time work. Once hired, they undergo monthly training sessions, held once or twice a month.
Supplementary Computer Literacy Classes: Structured sessions designed to provide students with foundational and advanced digital skills.
Each facilitator works 3–4 hours a day in the government school, teaching for 2 hours and spending the remaining time on upskilling themselves. They are paid a part-time monthly salary upto ₹4,500
“We’re not just training students—we’re creating jobs for women and youth in rural communities. These facilitators become role models and build trust with both students and parents,” Singh said.
Growth & Expansion Plans
Currently operating in four government schools, Edumust recently received CSR approval and formal permissions from DC Jalandhar and the District Education Officer (Elementary) to expand into 10 more schools in the year 2025-26.
The goal is to operate in 50-60 schools in the year 2026-27 and then in the long term reach the maximum number of schools in Jalandhar and Punjab.
Impact So Far
The impact is measurable. Edumust uses a Computer Assessment Score, where students must score at least 50% on digital skill-based questions. In the early phase, only 25% of students across their four schools crossed this mark. Today, 69% of students now score above 50%, indicating significant progress in both skill acquisition and digital confidence.
Outcomes and website link
Typing speed, understanding of basic software, and creative expression have all improved—students now design presentations, code animations, and use collaborative tools like Google Docs and Scratch.
Behind the Scenes: People Powering the Movement
The core team working on the ground consists of Executive Director Amarjot Singh.
Ankita and Avneet, passionate program team members who are deeply committed to societal impact in Jalandhar.They are dedicated to the thoughtful design and effective implementation of the program, ensuring that each step is rooted in community needs and student growth.
The team brings together a rich and diverse set of experiences—grassroots social work and fellowships like Teach For India, academic training in MSW, and cutting-edge educational innovation through positions such as Robotics Associate at Rancho Labs, Curriculum Developer with IHFC, and Coding & Math Instructor with White Hat Jr. This blend of experiences fuels a dynamic, empathetic, and forward-thinking approach to program delivery.
The organisation is guided by the founders and experienced board:
- Kamna Raj Aggarwalla (GDPA Fasteners)
- Seema Handa (MD, Eklavya School, Jalandhar and Castle Toyota)
- Navneet Samra (Promoter Capital Small Finance Bank)
- Parabal Partap Singh, the co-founder, now supports the organisation in an advisory capacity.
Conclusion
In a city grappling with the challenges of the digital age, Edumust is proving that change doesn’t require big budgets—just the right vision, community focus, and relentless execution. As the organisation continues to expand its reach, its mission remains the same: Every child in Jalandhar deserves a future of security, dignity, and opportunity.
Join the Movement
You can be a part of this powerful change. Support Edumust in reaching thousands more students and empowering communities through digital literacy. Your contribution—whether through time, resources, or voice—can help bridge the digital divide and build a future where every child is equipped to thrive in the 21st century.
Supporters of Edumust till date—ranging from compassionate individuals to committed organizations—have played a crucial role in enabling its mission and expanding its impact across Jalandhar.
Let’s come together to ensure no child is left behind in the digital age.