Pi Jam Foundation

Pi Jam Foundation is a for impact (not-for-profit) organization with a mission to equip children and educators of India with access to affordable technology and enhanced quality of Computer Science education that fosters essential skills like problem solving and design thinking. Using affordable and open-source technology in under-resourced schools along with a grade-specific curriculum, we help students build prototypes of technology-backed solutions to problems they observe in their everyday surroundings, while also applying concepts from subjects like Math and Science practically. While the penetration of technology is improving every day, its access and use is still limited to consuming a technological product, rather than building with it. Inefficient use of technology and un-integrated ICT practices that turn a blind eye towards skills like problem- solving & design thinking (having real-life relevance), have caused a very large divide between what the industries expect from their workforce and what schools train their students for, across 14 years. Students need to be taught from a school level to use technology in its basic form-through programming and problem solving, for them to become future creators. There is a disconnect between the education in schools and the mindsets and skills required for students to add productively to the economy. Industries complain that students are not equipped with basic technological skills coupled with problem-solving abilities to sustain their place in work. Our solution to the problem involves the choice of right tools and enabling a learning environment that ensures optimized impact that is systemic in nature.