DBS Foundation partners with Sampark Foundation to enhance education for over 5 lakh children

As part of the programme, DBS Foundation has committed SGD 4.21 million (approximately ₹27.1 crore) over three years (2025–2028), aiming to benefit 512,000 students in over 12,700 government schools across Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Himachal Pradesh.

The partnership aligns with DBSF’s efforts to uplift the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable communities. Guided by its two core pillars – Providing Essential Needs and Fostering Inclusion – the Foundation supports innovative, strategic, and scalable programmes that enable resilient communities.

By equipping classrooms with interactive learning tools and providing teachers with structured training, the programme seeks to address persistent gaps in the education system. Despite increased enrolment, many students in India require strengthened foundational literacy and numeracy skills. This will be addressed through targeted interventions:

• Grades 1–5: Introduction of the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) Box – an internet-free, plug-and-play device preloaded with state curriculum-aligned content and LED TVs, alongside tools such as manipulatives and board games to support mathematics, hindi and English proficiency.

• Grades 6–8: Deployment of LED TVs and the Sampark Science Box – an offline, plug-and-play device preloaded with curriculum-aligned content for Years 6 to 8 to enhance science learning and promote STEM education.

Recognising the pivotal role that teachers play in sustaining learning outcomes, the programme places them at the centre of educational transformation. Through hands-on training in inclusive and innovative pedagogy, educators will be equipped to deliver engaging and effective classroom experiences.

Karen Ngui, Head, DBS Foundation and DBS Group Strategic Marketing and Communications, said, “At DBS Foundation, we believe that a strong start early in life is key to building long-term resilience. Education is one of the most powerful drivers of equity, and our partnership with Sampark Foundation aims to narrow the education gap for children in rural communities. By focusing on early learning interventions, we hope to equip students with the skills and confidence they need to thrive in school and instil a love for learning to take them through all stages of life.”

 Arun Bhatt, Head- Philanthropy & Partnerships, Sampark Foundation, added, “Transformation at scale requires frugal innovation, deep collaboration, and a commitment to impact. Our partnership with DBS Foundation brings us closer to our mission of enabling interactive and sustainable learning experiences for children across India. By working with state governments, we are embedding these innovations into the heart of the public education system.”

The DBS Foundation x Sampark Foundation: Foundational Learning Programme is closely aligned with state education priorities. To ensure scale and sustainability, non-financial MoUs have been signed with the governments of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Himachal Pradesh, embedding the programme within the public education framework. The model is designed for scalability and government co-ownership. By 2028, the initiative aims to deliver an approximate 30% improvement in student learning outcomes across literacy, numeracy, and science, measured through assessments conducted before and after the intervention.

Since 2005, Sampark Foundation has impacted 18.4 million children, trained 850,000 teachers, distributed 41,000 Sampark TVs, and delivered 278,000 Teach-Easy kits across eight states in India. This programme is part of DBS Foundation’s broader efforts to support and work with like-minded partners in the ecosystem to create societal impact at scale.

In 2023, DBS announced that over the next ten years, it would commit up to SGD 1 billion, along with 1.5 million employee volunteering hours across its markets to improve lives and livelihoods. The programme with Sampark Foundation is part of these efforts.   Embodying DBS' brand promise of "Live More, Bank Less," the DBS Foundation empowers individuals to live better, at every age and in every circumstance. In India, this often begins with ensuring young children have access to essential education, building blocks for a brighter future.

This holistic approach directly parallels DBS Bank India's philosophy: just as the Foundation nurtures individuals through life's various stages, DBS Bank India similarly partners with businesses from their start-up phase, fostering their growth into SMEs and eventually large corporates. This commitment extends to retail customers as well, with DBS Bank India supporting their banking needs throughout different life phases, from opening their first salary account to partnering in their wealth creation journeys.

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About DBS

DBS is a leading financial services group in Asia with a presence in 19 markets. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, DBS is in the three key Asian axes of growth: Greater China, Southeast Asia and South Asia. The bank's "AA-" and "Aa1" credit ratings are among the highest in the world.

Recognised for its global leadership, DBS has been named “World’s Best Bank” by Global Finance, “World’s Best Bank” by Euromoney and “Global Bank of the Year” by The Banker. The bank is at the forefront of leveraging digital technology to shape the future of banking, having been named “World’s Best Digital Bank” by Euromoney and the world’s “Most Innovative in Digital Banking” by The Banker. In addition, DBS has been accorded the “Safest Bank in Asia“ award by Global Finance for 17 consecutive years from 2009 to 2025. In 2025, DBS Bank India was recognised by CRISIL - Coalition Greenwich as the Best Bank for Corporate Banking and Best Bank for Corporate Cash Management in India. Euromoney also named DBS Bank India the Best Digital Bank for SMEs in India in 2025. 

DBS provides a full range of services in consumer, SME and corporate banking. As a bank born and bred in Asia, DBS understands the intricacies of doing business in the region’s most dynamic markets.

DBS Bank has been present in India for more than 30 years, opening its first office in Mumbai in 1994. DBS Bank India Limited is the first among the large foreign banks in India to start operating as a wholly owned, locally incorporated subsidiary of a leading global bank. As a trusted partner, DBS provides a range of banking services for large, medium, and small enterprises and individual consumers in India, focusing on a seamless customer experience that helps them ‘Live more, Bank less’. In November 2020, Lakshmi Vilas Bank was merged with DBS Bank India Limited. DBS Bank India is now present in ~350 locations in 19 Indian states. 

With its extensive network of operations in Asia and emphasis on engaging and empowering its staff, DBS presents exciting career opportunities. For more information, please visit www.dbs.com. 

About DBS Foundation

Established in 2014, DBS Foundation is committed to uplifting lives and livelihoods of those in need. It provides essential needs to the underprivileged, and fosters inclusion by equipping the underserved with financial and digital literacy skills. It also nurtures innovative social enterprises that create positive impact. It aims to bring hope to those with less today, so no one is left behind and we can all face the future with confidence.

In 2024, DBS committed up to SGD 1 billion dollars over the next decade to support vulnerable communities. It also pledged to contribute 1.5 million employee volunteer hours over the same period.

Together with an ecosystem of like-minded partners, DBS Foundation seeks to create impact that goes beyond banking, beyond borders, and beyond generations. For more information, please visit: www.dbs.com/dbsfoundation

About Sampark Foundation
Sampark Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming primary education in India through innovation-led, large-scale social change. Founded by Anupama Nayar and Vineet Nayar—former Vice Chairman and CEO of HCL Technologies and author of “Employees First, Customers Second”—the Foundation was established on the belief that frugal innovation, when implemented in partnership with the government, can significantly enhance learning outcomes.

With a vision of “No Child Left Behind,” Sampark aims to improve the quality of education for millions of children across government schools by 2025, and is committed to investing in Innovations, Technology, Pedagogy, Teacher Resources, Teachers’ Training, etc. to achieve the goals of its mission.

Empowerment of teachers is at the heart of Sampark Foundation’s program. The Sampark program identifies them as changemakers, addresses their needs, and values their contributions to reach scalable solutions in education.

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