Pahalgam, Sep 11: Bharti Airtel Foundation and HQ Northern Command’s Army Goodwill Schools (AGS) on Thursday celebrated a decade-long partnership aimed at advancing quality education, strengthening school systems, empowering educators, fostering innovation and expanding opportunities for students across Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.
Established in 2016, the partnership reflects a shared commitment to improving educational outcomes and enabling children in the region to realise their full potential.
The milestone event, held at Army Goodwill Public School, Pahalgam, was graced by Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, PVSM, AVSM, SM, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, and Shri Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Co-Chairman, Bharti Airtel Foundation and Vice Chairman, Bharti Enterprises, besides senior representatives of the Indian Army and Bharti Airtel Foundation.
Speaking on the occasion, Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma said the partnership reflected a shared commitment to ensuring that every child had access to quality education and meaningful opportunities for growth.
He said the past decade had witnessed a remarkable transformation of Army Goodwill Schools through stronger systems, empowered educators, innovation-driven learning and enhanced opportunities for students.
“Together, we remain committed to nurturing confident, capable and future-ready young citizens,” he said.
Shri Rakesh Bharti Mittal said meaningful transformation in education required patience, strong partnerships and long-term commitment to institution building.
He said the collaboration had evolved from strengthening individual schools to creating ecosystems that empower educators, inspire innovation and expand aspirations among students.
The partnership, he added, would continue to focus on ensuring that every child, irrespective of geography, had access to the opportunities and skills needed to realise their full potential.
Over the past decade, the partnership has expanded from supporting 14 Army Goodwill Schools to driving transformation across all 43 AGS in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. The collaboration has progressed through three phases—School Support, System Strengthening, and Institutional and Student Transformation—shifting from individual interventions to sustainable systems aimed at strengthening institutions and improving learning outcomes.
Key initiatives have included leadership development for Heads of Institutions, structured academic and co-scholastic frameworks, school operating processes and governance mechanisms to enhance consistency and quality across schools.
Teachers have remained central to the transformation. Through continuous professional development covering pedagogy, foundational literacy and numeracy, technology integration and NEP 2020, all AGS teachers now have lifetime free access to ongoing learning through TheTeacherApp.
The partnership has also broadened opportunities for students through exposure visits, internships, career guidance, scholarships and experiential learning programmes. Innovation Clubs established across AGS have supported more than 160 student-led projects, with students participating in prestigious platforms including ISRO YUVIKA, INSPIRE-MANAK, Young Scientist India, School Enterprise Challenge and Young Technology Scholars.
The impact of these initiatives is also reflected in growing national and international recognition for AGS students and schools, with Army Goodwill School Wuzur being recognised among the World’s Top 10 Schools in the Innovation category.
Following the renewal of the partnership in 2026, Bharti Airtel Foundation and Army Goodwill Schools remain committed to strengthening schools as centres of excellence, innovation and holistic development, equipping children with the confidence, skills and opportunities needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
