Online e-discussion: improving education through contracting out services

While many studies have measured the effect of contracting on the delivery of public services, there is less research on the impact of contracting on the education sector. An online discussion this month aims to broaden the debate.

The Education Forum is helping moderate a World Bank-hosted discussion: 'How can contracting out of education services improve delivery?'

To join in, visit this web page.

According to the discussion moderators: "Contracting out delivery of education services can encourage innovation, cost effectiveness and better education results."

Four broad forms of contracting are up for discussion: the private management of public schools, government contracting with private schools, private finance initiatives and the use of the private sector for the provision of administrative and curriculum support to educational institutions.

New Zealand has a contracted out education service in the Alternative Education (AE) programme. The AE programme funds the delivery of education in non-school settings for school-age children who have become alienated from the education system.

The programme, introduced in 1997, aims to give students a learning pathway to prepare them to return to mainstream secondary education or to move onto tertiary education or employment.

A report by Education Forum policy advisor Norman LaRocque on the AE programme and other contracted education services.

Other papers on contracted education around the world are at the online discussion's web page.