Education
Oxford University Lab and ShikshaLokam Release Playbook on Government-Civil Society Collaboration in Education
The Government Outcomes Lab at the University of Oxford and the non-profit organization ShikshaLokam have jointly released a playbook. This resource outlines strategies for governments and civil society to collaborate in driving systemic change within public education. The playbook, titled "Orchestrating Education System Change: Insights from the Shikshagraha Movement," is based on a study of Shikshagraha, an education movement led by ShikshaLokam, an education leadership catalyst supported by Infosys co-founder S.D. Shibulal.
The playbook examines the role of government-civil society partnerships in education reform, the conditions that foster productive collaboration, challenges that can impede such partnerships, and methods to address these challenges. Stefan Dercon, Professor of Economic Policy at the University of Oxford and former chief economist at the U.K.’s Department for International Development, noted that previous approaches to improving education in developing countries often focused on governmental actions like better curricula and accountability, underestimating the fundamental aspect of implementing change. The study shifts focus to how governments, civil society, and communities can work together to implement and sustain reform at scale.
Currently, over 35 civil society, industry, and philanthropic partners within the Shikshagraha network are collaborating with more than 1.17 lakh schools across 33 districts in 14 States and Union Territories. This work includes empowering education leaders to implement need-based school improvements and increasing the participation of women, youth, and communities in the public education system. The playbook emphasizes that governments provide the mandate and capacity for large-scale policy implementation, while civil society organizations contribute local knowledge, experimentation, and adaptability to diverse contexts. It also warns that poorly designed partnerships can hinder reform efforts.
The playbook incorporates insights from interviews with 30 stakeholders from Shikshagraha and the broader Indian education system, including current and former government officials at various levels, civil society organizations, and philanthropic donors. Researchers conducted fieldwork in New Delhi, Gaya, Patna, Bengaluru, and Mysuru. The playbook identifies three key priorities for strengthening government-civil society partnerships: establishing clear roles, integrating with existing public systems, and building trust. Khushboo Awasthi, Chief Curator of Shikshagraha and co-founder of ShikshaLokam, stated that India faces a system-change problem in education, not a lack of solutions. She added that while teachers, communities, school leaders, and civil society organizations are developing effective solutions, no single solution can transform a public system independently. The playbook was published on September 16, 2026, at 01:00 pm IST.