Lab at Oxford University, Bengaluru NGO ShikshaLokam release playbook on how governments and civil society can work together

The Government Outcomes Lab at Oxford University and ShikshaLokam, a non-profit organization, have collaborated to release a playbook on how governments and civil society can collaborate to effect systemic change in public education. The playbook is based on a study of Shikshagraha, an education movement led by ShikshaLokam, an education leadership initiative supported by Infosys co-founder S.D.

Shibulal. The document, titled Orchestrating Education System Change: Insights from the Shikshagraha Movement, explores the potential of government-civil society partnerships in education reform, the conditions that facilitate productive collaboration, and the obstacles that can impede such partnerships, along with strategies to overcome these challenges.

Stefan Dercon, Professor of Economic Policy at Oxford University and former chief economist at the U.K.’s Department for International Development, emphasized that previous efforts to improve education in developing countries have primarily focused on governmental actions such as refining curricula, strengthening accountability mechanisms, and setting clear goals.

However, the study underscores the importance of implementing change, which requires a different approach. The research has identified three key priorities for strengthening government-civil society partnerships: establishing clear roles, leveraging existing public systems, and fostering trust.

The Shikshagraha network, comprising more than 35 civil society, industry, and philanthropic partners, is currently collaborating with over 1.17 lakh schools in 33 districts across 14 States and Union Territories. Their efforts focus on empowering education leaders to implement tailored school improvements and enhancing the involvement of women, youth, and communities in the public education system.

The playbook highlights that government entities are responsible for policy implementation at scale, while civil society organizations possess local knowledge, innovative approaches, and the flexibility to adapt to diverse contexts. However, it also warns that poorly conceived partnerships can obstruct reform efforts. The playbook draws upon interviews with 30 stakeholders from Shikshagraha and the broader Indian education landscape, including government officials at various levels, civil society representatives, and philanthropic donors. Fieldwork was conducted in New Delhi, Gaya, Patna, Bengaluru, and Mysuru.

Khushboo Awasthi, Chief Curator of Shikshagraha and co-founder of ShikshaLokam, emphasized that India faces a systemic challenge rather than a problem of lacking educational solutions. She stressed that while numerous effective solutions exist, no single approach can transform a public education system on its own.