NGOs' Growing Role in MP Government Schools Questioned Over Training and Recruitment

The growing involvement of NGOs in Madhya Pradesh's government school system has raised concerns among educators and officials. Teachers have written to the State Education Centre, saying frequent training programmes conducted by NGOs are disrupting regular classroom activities. The School Education Department oversees nearly two lakh teachers across government schools.

Allegations have emerged that some NGOs are conducting teacher training, handling recruitment, and taking on school-related responsibilities without proper departmental approval. Officials at the State Education Centre said proposals from NGOs conducting recruitment or other programmes without prior permission would be deemed invalid. Teachers have complained that repeated training sessions are affecting their core teaching duties.

The concerns extend to NGO-implemented schemes such as the Activity Based Learning programme, which was discontinued but reportedly caused difficulties for students in tribal and remote areas. The episode has prompted questions about the appropriateness of assigning government school responsibilities to private organisations.