Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part F (2025)

This study focuses on the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the identification and alleviation of current learning deficits in primary education in a socioculturally complex environment such as the Hojai district in Assam. Even districts such as Hojai, where tribal and other linguistic minorities are numerous, still experience the extreme shortage of the basic reading and numeracy skills despite the government effort. The current study relies on a qualitative-dominant mixed-method study design to examine the strategies, perceived outcomes, and challenges of NGO interventions. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with community individuals, government school teachers and the workers of the non-governmental organizations. Addtionally, information was also obtained from learning centres and focus groups on parents and kids, which were made using non-participant observations. Based on the thematic analysis, NGOs succeed in bridging the gap in learning through three primary and interconnected solutions: (1) establishing a pedagogy of care that facilitates the safe learning environments and establishes the sense of relational trust; (2) fulfilling the role of a linguistic and cultural mediator by relying upon the home languages in making formal education available; and (3) paving the way to a great sense of community ownership by rethinking the role of a parent as an active educational stakeholder. What also emerges as the crux of the paradox integral to the study is a critical issue of resource scarcity, fatigue of volunteers occasioned by temporary funding and challenges of achieving scaling are all problems that undermine the very benefits of these hyper-localized, relationship-based models. In the findings of the study, it was revealed that the non-governmental organizations serve as an important component, additional players who would address the more general ecological and cognitive learning shortcomings in the school system. The findings justify the creation of more sustainable sources of funds to ensure the sustainability and expansion of their successful work, and premeditated policy actions to address popularizing these proven and context-specific strategies into the regular system.