Balawadi programme strengthens the educational foundation of children particularly from the underprivileged sections of the city. Universalisation of Pre-school education is an important strategy for achieving universalisation of primary education. If every child can avail of some kind of early childhood education, the chances that the child will go on to a regular school are high. Moreover, the Pre-school exposure will enhance and strengthen the child's subsequent school performance, in terms of achievement and attendance.

• Targets pre-school children in the age group of 3-5½ years.

• Aims at exposing children from low-income families to an early childhood education.

• Located either at a municipal school, community space, place of worship or a teacher's home.

• Each class has around 15-20 children with an instructor from the local community and runs for 2-3 hours a day.

Pratham Mysore has devised the Balawadi programme is such a way that the children get familiarized with schooling and "school-going" becomes a habit. They are taught to mix with other children, play and enjoy the experience, as they learn.