Having exchanged ideas with the private sector for years, I am now convinced that non-governmental
organisations and businesses have not just the goodwill but also the readiness to contribute to education.
The NGOs have helped with building schools, giving scholarships to underprivileged children and conducting out-of-school classes for street children. Some NGOs have even raised funds to provide free lunches to poor children.
Many companies have now made contributions to education through corporate social responsibility projects. For example, they have funded research by university lecturers and students. They have paid for the construction or renovation of school buildings. They have also granted scholarships to students. Often, they have worked on education-related services via matching funds.
The private sector has helped via knowledge sharing and skill transfer. Many corporations have offered student internships, allowing the young people to learn by doing.
It is high time that the government gave official space to actively engage the private sector in educational services. The Education Ministry should now work hand-in-hand with the private sector in the upcoming round of educational reform.
Public-private partnerships (PPPs) in education are a great idea.
According to the World Bank, PPPs can facilitate service delivery, lead to additional financing for the educational sector, expand equitable access and improve learning outcomes.
The challenge is how the government can inspire and engage private stakeholders to work in partnership with schools, and through which forms the PPPs should take place. It takes careful planning to ensure that PPPs are not only efficient but also free from corruption.
To develop a PPP master plan, the national education committee should organise hearings to solicit useful information. Defining clear PPP objectives and criteria will also help raise the effectiveness of communications and consultation with all stakeholders.
The government may provide PPP guidance for the involvement of the private sector at different levels, then create activities, conferences or events to cluster and associate the private sector network in education services.
PPPs can work in various areas such as teacher training, management or curriculum design, supporting learning, career advice, work-experience sharing or school management skills.
If the government agrees to embark on PPPs, it should consider setting up a PPP taskforce in the upcoming round of educational reform. Then the private sector will be able to give greater contributions to the educational sector.
Priyakorn Pusawiro, learning scientist in the computer engineering dept of KMUTT, can be reached at pusawiro@cpe.kmutt.ac.th.
