PSF has been an active proponent of universal literacy, schooling and the right to education. Interventions in literacy, school education and collegiate education is usually through constructive forms of engagement in the form of supplementary teaching, support to teacher’s development, support to learners with under-privileged backgrounds, or through campaigns.  PSF’s role in implementing and promoting the total literacy campaign was truly historic. Its joy of learning campaign was also an important contribution. PSF also pays and important role by promoting a critical analysis of education policy, promoting public discussion on educational policy and practices and promoting the realization of the right to education as a fundamental human right.

Objectives

Ensure that education in society is universal, perceived as a public good and a fundamental human rights, and that it provides the foundation for justice, equality and democracy

Activities

Teacher Training Programmes on Science, Mathematics, Astronomy etc. have been a regular agenda for the PSF. Notable programmes also included the Training Programme on Science experiments done for childrens science congresses, and with University of Paris for make science competitions. Earlier PSF was along with TNSF a pioneer in the Joy-of-learning campaign.

Thulir Illams: These are informal schools organized for children with under-privileged backgrounds, to supplement their school learning and provide the home support that first generation learners cannot get from their families. Organized in coordination with Samam, it also becomes a ground for understanding the daily practices and problems that children are facing in school education

Total Literacy Campaign: Government of Pondicherry partnered with PSF to pioneer the total literacy campaign strategy. Learning from the first district level TLC in Ernakulam district, it went on to pioneer a viable approach outside a Kerala-like situation. Many of the methods used nation-wide, were originally incubated here. Pondicherry PLC Arivoli Iyakkam became a big success and the UNESCO awarded the prestigious International King Sejong Prize for the Pondicherry Programme in 1992.

NEP Observatory: The PSF has been following with much concern the implementation of the New Education Policy 2020 in Puducherry and its interface with the Right to Education 2009. It has brought out one policy note in this regard. It holds regular multi-stakeholder consultations, and gathers information and understanding to provide a feedback to policy makers