When Good Intentions Hit a Wall: The Challenges Faced by NGOs Supporting Government Schools in Karnataka

Leadership Blogs - by Karthikeyan R - Head - South India Programs - Development Consortium

Editorial Note: Written by Karthigeyan R, Head - South India Programs at Development Consortium, this piece reflects on the recent pause in NGO access to government schools in Karnataka and how it has disrupted long-standing partnerships that strengthened teaching, infrastructure, and learning quality. While the government aims to protect classroom time, the blanket restrictions overlook the essential support NGOs provide. Karthigeyan highlights the need for selective permissions and collaborative planning so that schools, NGOs, and communities can continue working together for better outcomes for children.

For years, NGOs across Karnataka have walked hand in hand with the government to strengthen public education. They have entered classrooms where walls were cracked but hopes were strong, where teachers managed multiple classes with limited resources, and where every small improvement -a repaired roof, a reading corner, a new teaching method, made a world of difference to a child.

These organizations have been more than partners; they have been catalysts of change. Through teacher training, leadership development, and school infrastructure support, NGOs created spaces where teachers felt inspired and children felt seen. Many of these partnerships were built on trust, with schools, with the department, and with the communities they served.

But this year, that trust has been tested. The department suspended permissions for NGOs to visit schools, and teachers were instructed not to attend training sessions during school hours. What seemed like a simple administrative decision rippled through the ecosystem, disrupting well-laid plans and halting progress.

For many NGOs, the academic year began with clear project plans and donor commitments. Then suddenly, the schools they had worked with for years were out of reach. Workshops had to be canceled, and teams struggled to explain to donors that despite their commitment, implementation was no longer possible.

It’s easy to understand the department’s concern. Government schools face real challenges - a shortage of teachers, heavy workloads, and a dependence on guest teachers to keep classes running. When teachers are taken away for training, learning suffers. The intent to protect classroom time is valid. But a blanket restriction doesn’t recognize the value that credible NGOs bring to the system.

Across Karnataka, NGOs have helped fill critical gaps - building classrooms, supporting digital learning, mentoring teachers, and introducing creative pedagogy. Their work has often sustained quality in places where the system itself struggles. When these partnerships are abruptly paused, it’s not just NGOs that lose; it’s the children who lose access to better learning experiences.

What if, instead of closing the door entirely, the department opened it selectively? Permissions could be reviewed case by case, considering each NGO’s track record and alignment with government priorities. Training could be planned after school hours, on weekends, or through blended models. These small adjustments could make collaboration possible without disrupting teaching time.

Education has never been the responsibility of one group alone. It takes teachers, administrators, parents, and partners working together to build lasting change. Karnataka’s NGOs have stood by this belief for years. It’s time to rebuild that bridge of trust and find a balanced, win-win solution, because when the government and NGOs walk together, every child moves forward.