Srinagar, Aug. 10 -- While significant efforts have been made across the country to improve access to quality education, many schools still face a silent but critical barrier: inadequate infrastructure. During recent field visits, a deeper issue emerged; children strive to learn in spaces that lack basic elements needed for a good learning environment. The purpose of these visits was to assess the needs related to foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) and early childhood care and education (ECCE). The goal was to understand current teaching practices, learning environments, training needs for school leaders and teachers, and the availability of key resources and materials. But beyond the numbers and teaching methods, one fact stood out...