Public-private partnerships for educational reform

A traditionalrole of government has been to provide the infrastructure and services required to support the economic activity of the citizens they govern. The supply of services such as roads, hospitals, and schools are examples of the infrastructure typically associated with the role of government. However, in more recent times, some governments are seeking to include the private sector in the provision of these services in the form of public–private partnerships (PPPs). This trend has growing popularity among governments across the world. Despite this apparently growing trend, there is a dearth of empirical evidence that explores the benefits of such a partnership. This article explores several case studies of PPP in the sphere of education and reports the impact of these projects including education and social outcomes. More important, this article provides guidelines for effective PPP by drawing upon the strengths of the cost–benefit analysis and project-management models. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.