Centre for Intrinsic Motivation

Menu

KARNATAKA

Strong systems are built on strong relationships. In Karnataka, we work every day to strengthen both.

Introduction

Karnataka is home to over 1.1 crore students and more than 75,000 government and aided schools. Every day, this system runs on the work of thousands of teachers, head teachers, and education officials who keep classrooms alive with learning.

From the Department of State Educational Research and Training (DSERT) to District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs), a network of academic leaders exists in every district, guiding training, setting priorities, and shaping how education is delivered.

Since 2016, the Centre for Intrinsic Motivation (CIM) has been part of this network. We work with the people who make the system work, the teachers, the school leaders, and the officials who support them. Together, we create environments where motivation thrives and learning lasts.

The Problem

In Karnataka, teachers are part of a larger ecosystem  guided by DIETs, supported by DSERT, and shaped by district priorities.

Workshops and training happen regularly. But the real challenge is what happens next. Without strong links between the training room, the district office, and the classroom, even the best ideas risk fading before they reach students.

CIM strengthens that link. We bring state, district, and school teams onto the same page, so the energy from training turns into lasting change in classrooms.

 

The Solution: Strengthening Relationships, Building Motivation

We connect every layer of the system DSERT, DIETs, nodal officers, school leaders, and teachers into a shared mission.

Our cascading approach starts with district and block officials, who in turn work with teachers in their schools. This keeps support consistent, local, and relevant.

We focus on:

  • Closing the gap between training design and classroom practice.
  • Making sure teachers’ voices shape the training they receive.
  • Keeping motivation alive with regular reflection, peer support, and recognition.

When everyone in the chain from officials to classroom teachers  works in sync, change becomes visible in classrooms, in staff rooms, and in student learning.

 We operate in Karnataka three ways:

  • Building Intrinsically Motivated Lifelong Learners — a cascading model where district teams train teachers, and teachers bring fresh energy into their classrooms.

  • Mental Well-being For Teachers — Exploring and building a program that addresses well-being for teachers. With system ownership, collect data to understand the status of teacher well-being followed by designing and implementation of programs focused on improving well being of teachers

  • Quality Improvement Projects (QIPs) — school-led projects that fix real problems, with practical, local solutions.

Together we create a culture where teachers want to do better — because they can see and feel the difference.

Our approach in Karnataka focuses on three essentials:

Our Reach in Karnataka

OUR ACHIEVEMENTS

  • We are now supporting approx 50,000 schools across the whole state.
  • Before COVID-19, we were already reaching more than 43,058 teachers and 5,50,566 children.
  • We have now reached more than 2.2 lakh teachers and 45 lakh children.
  • From 2019-2020, our internal data showed a 62 percentage point improvement in classroom engagement in Karnataka.
  • We’re now a fundamental part of the flagship state Kalika Chetharike programme.