Nov102025
Thought Leadership
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By Abhishek Jain, Head, Public Policy at Mantra4Change.

Finding ‘education policy’ in the larger umbrella of ‘policy’

In policy discourse, the most common discourse usually surrounds ‘public policy’ where the classification of policy has been on the basis of ownership i.e., whether it is owned and/or created by a public institution/ actor. In cases where policy is owned and created by a private institution/ actor it would be the private policy for that institution/ actor. In the context of sectoral policies like ‘education policy’, it is essential to understand that both public and private ‘education policy’ co-exist. While conceptually ‘education policy’ would cover policy owned by public (government and government funded/controlled entities) and private actors (such as private schools, philanthropic organizations, ed‑tech companies), typically the term is more commonly used to refer specifically to public policy of the education sector i.e., public education policy. For the purpose of this piece, we will discuss public policy for and by the education system.

Scoping ‘Education Policy’ and Mapping Key Stakeholders

Education policy refers to the underlying framework and discourse that shape education at all levels, from early childhood to higher education and today even lifelong learning. It encompasses the principles, laws, and regulations that govern the education system, influencing every aspect of teaching and learning. Education policy is never static and evolves with social, political, and economic priorities.

Any policy landscape is always shaped by a host of stakeholders that are spread vertically and horizontally across multiple levels. The education space is also shaped by a multitude of diverse stakeholders. While from a superficial assessment it may appear that there are only 3 key stakeholders that are the students themselves, their teachers and their parents/guardians, on a more nuanced assessment we find that there are many more stakeholders that influence the education space. Viewing the education system from a student and teacher facing lens, we can segregate and classify stakeholders and their roles more effectively when split across the 3 key environments that affect the teaching and learning experience1. Below is a map of the environments against the key stakeholders under each of these.

Environment Stakeholders
Classroom
  • Students - primary actors in the learning process
  • Teachers / Educators - primary actors in the teaching process, design and deliver instruction; adapt pedagogy to student needs; assess progress; foster inclusive and engaging learning environments.
  • Classroom support staff including aides, special educators, counselors when embedded that collectively enable the teaching and learning process in the classrooms. Provide targeted support for diverse learning needs; enable inclusive participation; assist teachers in managing classrooms.
School
  • Students - they form the peer group of the student shaping socialization, collaboration, and overall school culture; also participate in extracurricular and leadership activities.
  • Teachers / Educators - collaborate with other teachers to share best practices; contribute to school‑wide planning and strategy; support holistic development beyond academics; track and analyze learning trends.
  • School leaders such as principals, headmasters, administrators - set vision and strategy; manage resources; ensure quality standards; foster professional development; build partnerships with external stakeholders.
  • Non-teaching staff such as counselors, librarians, lab assistants, office staff, aides, special educators, counselors when embedded - ensure smooth functioning of the school; provide academic, emotional, and operational support depending on their specific role to students and teachers as the case may be.
  • Parents/guardians - participate and support school initiatives and programs; interact with teachers through parent teacher meetings; provide feedback on school programs; and reinforce learning at home.
  • Committees/ associations/ boards managing the school - oversee governance, accountability, and compliance; ensure alignment with broader educational goals.
  • School Alumni bodies - contribute as mentors, role models, and supporters; provide resources, networks, and inspiration for current students.
Community
  • Parents / Guardians - form networks that share experiences and advocate for improvements in the teaching and learning process; influence school choices within their community.
  • Extended family and caregivers - for each student, their extended family and/or caregivers shape their attitudes toward education; and in some cases also provide emotional, financial, and logistical support.
  • Civil society organizations that are working towards making education more equitable, and accessible can make the system better overall (including through innovative interventions) and break down barriers to education thereby promoting teaching and learning systems more accessible and friendly for all. Can also support in improving governance and accountability in the overall education system.
  • Religious and cultural institutions indirectly shape norms and values that in turn also set community expectations around education.
  • Industry groups shape demand for skills across education levels; and can partner with schools for providing vocational training, and other forms of support for driving career readiness.
  • Media - shape public perception of education; highlight successes and challenges; influence policy debates.
  • Policymakers and regulators - frame laws, policies, and standards governing and regulating the education landscape; allocate government resources/budgets; monitor compliance and outcomes.
  • International organizations such as UNICEF and UNESCO - conducting neutral third party comparative analyses and studies to identify and understand the education systems of different countries and identify best practices and transferable ideas across them
  • EdTech companies - with the tech revolution, EdTech companies provide tools and platforms that reshape teaching, learning, and assessment; expand accessibility, learnability and the scope of education needs itself.
  • Bodies of School Teachers (unions, associations, etc) - advocate for teacher rights and professional standards; influence policy and reform processes basis their own on-ground inputs and reflections.

While stakeholder roles highlight the micro level dynamics of education policy, to better understand the implications on the macro level, it is useful to study the impact of a policy system on Samaaj (society), Sarkaar (state), and Bazaar (market).

Impact of Education Policy on Samaaj, Sarkaar, and Bazaar

The impact of any sector of policy can be assessed through multiple different frameworks and tools. One such framework that particularly acknowledges the societal context and adopts a citizen‑centric approach is the Samaaj, Sarkaar, and Bazaar framework, articulated by Rohini Nilekani2. Education policy directly has the potential to influence all 3 pillars:

  • Samaaj (Society)
    Education policy directly shapes civil society by influencing literacy, civic engagement, and social mobility. A strong policy framework can improve the quality of life, reduce inequalities, empower marginalized groups, and foster innovation and cultural growth.
  • Sarkaar (State)
    Education policy strengthens democratic governance by creating a more informed and engaged citizenry. It also determines how resources are allocated, how teachers are trained, and how accountability is enforced—making the state’s role both foundational and enabling.
  • Bazaar (Market)
    Education policy fuels economic growth by enhancing the value of human capital. It determines the skills pipeline for industries, influences employability, and shapes how countries compete in the global economy.

Ultimately, education policy has the potential to align samaaj, sarkaar, and bazaar in a way that places society at the bedrock, supported by an optimal balance of state and market forces.

Conclusion: Why Education Policy Matters

Effective education policy plays a vital role in promoting learning outcomes, equity, and economic growth. By setting clear standards and expectations, it drives improvements in attainment and addresses systemic inequalities. It also promotes diversity and inclusion, contributing to a more skilled and adaptable workforce that benefits society as a whole.

Education policy is more than the framework governing institutional teaching and learning systems but more importantly it is the blueprint for shaping the future of our societies. It determines who gets to learn, what they learn, from whom they learn, and how the learning translates into value (i.e., opportunities that ultimately shape an individual’s life). By influencing samaaj, sarkaar, and bazaar, education policy sits at the heart of nation‑building. Pertinently, the education policy discourse is also the playground to meaningfully attempt to solve some key conundrums such as determining the level of regulation and control that different levels of the government (central, state and local levels) should have; the pros and cons of centralization vs decentralization, standardization vs flexibility, access vs quality, equity vs excellence; and ultimately how best to balance between public education systems and private education systems.

* By Abhishek Jain, Head, Public Policy at Mantra4Change.

* AI Use Declaration: Assistance of AI tools was taken for analysis and copy-editing of this blog.

1 Mantra4Change views the education system as an amalgamation of diverse stakeholders interacting, enabling and collaborating across 3 key environments – the classroom, the school and finally the larger community.

2 You can read more about the framework here – https://www.samaajsarkaarbazaar.in/