Public private partnerships and secondary education service delivery in Uganda: case study selected secondary schools in Arua municipality

Abstract

This study was an assessment of the effectiveness of Public- Private Partnership in enhancing education service delivery with reference to Najjah Islamic Secondary School, Nile High School and Anyafio Role Model Secondary school in Arua Municipality in the west Nile region of Uganda. The study aimed at establishing the effectiveness of Public Private Partnership in provision of infrastructural and scholastic materials, enhancing school enrollment and retention, enhancing equitable access to education and in the development of human resource in the targeted secondary schools. The research design that was used in this study is a cross sectional research design. This study was based on observations that took place in different groups at one time. A cross-sectional research study was used to describe the characteristics that exist in a group. Regarding the findings from the study, Public-private partnership (PPP) was perceived as a system in which a government service or private business venture is funded and operated through a partnership of government and one or more private sector. As regards provision of infrastructural materials to schools, this was done through collaborations between public and private sectors with a focus on system efficiency, innovation and accountability. However, due to increased enrollment, the scholastic materials such as furniture and text books are still inadequate, but when implemented, PPP enhances infrastructural materials to schools. Regarding access to schooling, PPPs was found to enhance equitable access to school. In other words, PPPs increased parents’ access to quality schools in underserved communities of Arua Municipality. It can be said that the whole school PPP models of school management and school adoption present a significant opportunity in Uganda and Arua Municipality in particular. In addition, cases of capacity building were evident but not so pronounced apart from science training workshops. Based on the results of the study, the researcher recommended that there is need for high accountability standards with well-defined evaluation and assessment methods in implementation of PPPs. This should be in addition to timely reimbursements of funds through systematic, robust and transparent processes. Uganda’s experience suggests that while infrastructure is important, there is a constant need to innovate within the prevailing cost per child in order to achieve quality outcomes.