Despite the wide recognition of the importance of education in social development, Education, as a discipline, has remained largely underdeveloped, leading to a dearth of shared and informed body of knowledge that guides sound policy decisions or practice in the field. The Trust has therefore focused its resources in supporting:

(i) Educational research with focus on comparative studies;
(ii) Linking higher education with elementary education through collaborative networks, fellowships and research; and
(iii) Professionalizing elementary education

Despite the efforts and achievements towards universalizing school education, elementary education continues to be an under-developed discipline. Weak linkages between the two, as well as the gap between academics and the world of practice, are the root causes of this problem. The need for strong academic linkages between higher and elementary education cannot be over-emphasized. Despite the critical role of higher education institutions in developing school curriculum and training teacher educators, their interaction with the elementary schools has been far from adequate. For historical reasons, elementary education has been outside the ambit of the University system. In this context, there is an urgent need for professionalizing elementary education at the level of the discipline as well as develop a cadre.

In view of this situation, with the sub-thematic focus of nurturing education as a discipline, the Trust endeavours to promote educational research by focusing on comparative research, besides language and literacy development. It also strives to develop a link between higher and elementary education. This approach is vital in order to enable education to develop an intrinsic orientation towards reform, besides having leaders who understand education as a specialized field of professional engagement. With increasing investments being made in the field of elementary education, the need for a specialised cadre of professionals has been widely acknowledged. The Trust attempts to address some of these gaps through its grant making.