Learn in Your Language. Lead with Confidence.
Slate Pencil is a grassroots learning ecosystem dedicated to making high-quality, skill-based education accessible in regional languages. Founded by a collective of educators, technologists, and community leaders, it addresses some of India’s most pressing learning challenges, including language barriers, limited access, and the need for context-driven education while ensuring that knowledge is available free or at an affordable cost to learners.
About Us
Simple, Reliable and Effective
Our Mission : To democratize access to skill-based education by removing barriers of language, geography, and affordability, enabling every learner to build confidence and thrive in the workforce.
Our Vision: To build a future where no learner is left behind because of language, location, or lack of access.
- Free tutorials from industry experts in Bengali and other Indian languages via YouTube and online platforms.
- Focused, affordable premium content with doubt-clearing sessions and knowledge bases.
- Peer-to-peer learning groups—organized by subject, topic, and geography.
- Gamified assessments to make learning engaging and practical.
- A platform for teachers to create and share regional tutorials.
The Story Behind Slate Pencil
Slate Pencil began with a simple but powerful belief that access to quality, skill-based education should never be limited by language, privilege, or geography.
While working closely with public institutions and technology platforms, we kept encountering the same reality: talented individuals across towns and villages were being left behind. Not because of a lack of ability, but because education was not available in their language, not designed for their context, and not accessible enough to reach them.
We started Slate Pencil in 2024 with a mission to change that.
The name itself is rooted in nostalgia and meaning; a ‘slate and pencil’, the first tools many of us used to learn. It reminds us that education must begin where people are, not where systems expect them to be. That belief shapes everything we do: from creating small, supportive learning communities to delivering education in Bengali.
Built on experience across technology, governance, and grassroots innovation, Slate Pencil is designed to be both deeply local and future-ready. We combine the strength of peer learning with the power of AI, digital tools, and community intelligence to create an ecosystem where learning is accessible, relevant, and empowering.
The Visionary Behind Our Mission
Nazibar Rahaman is a firm believer in the power of education to transform lives and communities.
His journey began in the remote villages of Purulia, where he not only taught but inspired people to value education and helped build a culture of learning from the ground up. He continued this mission in Saltora, Bankura, where as a teacher at Saltora Dr. B.C. Vidyapith, he played a key role in improving the school’s capacity and quality, expanding access to affordable education for rural and marginalized students.
Driven by a vision of equal opportunity, he went on to establish Saltora Girls’ High School, Saltora Netaji Centenary College, and Saltora B.Ed. College, created an educational pathway where none existed before.
Hasinur Rahaman laid the foundation of Slate Pencil Academy, shaping it into a mission-driven EdTech initiative focused on skill development through micro-cluster learning in Bengali.
An alumnus of IIM Kozhikode and IIIT Bangalore, he has worked with global consulting firms such as Deloitte and PwC. With extensive experience in digital transformation, he has led large-scale initiatives and built multiple enterprise-grade products, including AI/ML platforms.
Holding Organization
Saltora B.Ed. College is the holding organization of Slate Pencil, an education technology initiative launched in 2024 to promote skill-based learning in the Bengali language.
As the parent institution, Saltora B.Ed. College provides strategic guidance, infrastructure support, and academic oversight to ensure Slate Pencil’s offerings align with contemporary educational needs and regional relevance.
Shaminur Rahaman, an electronics engineer with nearly two decades of experience, chose to leave his professional life in Mumbai and return to his hometown of Saltora to work toward a larger social purpose.
Committed to improving access to education, he currently serves as the Secretary and Chief Executive of Saltora B.Ed. College, where he continues to drive efforts toward affordable and inclusive learning.
As the Executive Director of Slate Pencil Academy, Shaminur leads the initiative’s on-ground execution, working closely with a network of motivated students and graduates. Through this collaborative approach, he has successfully implemented the model at a grassroots level, bringing the mission to life within local communities.
Why Slate Pencil?
- Localized Learning: Understand better in your mother tongue.
- Community First: Learn with peers, mentors, and teachers from your region.
- Flexible Access: Watch, discuss, and practice—anytime, anywhere.
- Career-Ready: Build practical skills and confidence to face the job market.
Services
Vernacular Learning, Peer Engagement, Affordable Premium Content, Teacher Empowerment
Micro Cluster Based Learning
Learn in small groups organized by topic, interest, or location. These micro-clusters support collaborative, engaging, and flexible learning for everyone, anywhere.
Peer Collaboration
Connect, discuss, and grow with fellow learners. Share ideas, solve doubts, and build knowledge together through active peer engagement.
Skill Development Tutorial in Bengali
Master essential skills in your own language. Slate Pencil Academy offers free, expert-led video tutorials in Bengali — making learning accessible, easy, and effective for everyone.
Contact
Address
Slate Pencil Academy, Saltora B Ed College Road, Saltora, Bankura, West Bengal, 722158
Email Us
info@slatepencilacademy.com