IIT Madras School Connect sees girls close gender gap, account for 49% of enrollments

IIT Madras’ School Connect program is drawing nearly equal participation from girls and boys, with girls accounting for 49% of its 223,721 enrollments since August 2024.

According to figures shared by the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), approximately 1.10 lakh girls and 1.14 lakh boys have enrolled in the initiative, which introduces school students to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and other academic disciplines.

The programme aims to help students explore different subjects, understand educational opportunities and make informed decisions about their future studies and careers.

IIT Madras School Connect expands its reach

The School Connect programme offers online courses that allow students to explore subjects beyond their regular school curriculum. Through the initiative, IIT Madras seeks to familiarize learners with different academic fields before they make decisions about higher education and career pathways.

The programme has partnered with 6,406 schools, according to the latest figures released by the institute. Since its inception, the initiative has reached more than 1.75 lakh students and collaborated with over 4,900 schools, including more than 60 institutions outside India.

IIT Madras has opened applications for the October 2026 cohort through its Centre for Outreach and Digital Education (CODE). The programme is available to students in Classes IX, X, XI and XII, with Class IX students included for the first time.

The expansion gives younger students an opportunity to explore different disciplines before selecting their academic streams for Classes XI and XII. Early exposure to a wider range of subjects can help them understand available educational and career options before deciding on their next stage of learning.

Courses available in multiple languages

The program's courses are currently offered in English and Hindi. IIT Madras is also developing learning modules in seven additional regional languages to make the initiative accessible to students from diverse linguistic and educational backgrounds.

The expansion is intended to help more students access learning materials and explore academic disciplines that may not be covered in depth in their regular classrooms.

By introducing learners to different subjects and potential career paths, the initiative also aims to support informed decisions about higher education and preparation for competitive entrance examinations.

IIT Madras plans to extend the School Connect programme to 25,000 schools across India in the coming years. Its existing network of 6,406 partner schools will provide a foundation for the planned expansion.

Nearly one lakh students receive certification

The program has issued certificates to nearly one lakh students, according to the information provided by the institute. This reflects the scale of participation since the initiative began in August 2024.

With applications open for the October 2026 cohort, IIT Madras is extending the programme to younger learners while continuing to expand its school network and multilingual course offerings.