ABSTRACT
This chapter offers a critical exploration of key evidence on public–private partnerships (PPP), arrangements between governments and different types of non-state and private providers and how various relationships have evolved over time. The chapter is grounded in current international and national debates on whether, and if so, how governments can partner with the private and non-state sector to provide quality education effectively to more children in an equitable manner. It focuses on the cases of India and Pakistan whilst exploring the relationship between different partnership approaches and social inequalities (based on gender, location, poverty, etc.) in the two countries.
The chapter discusses evidence from existing literature to analyse the varied partnership arrangements in India and Pakistan, especially the extent to which they offer solutions that provide equitable quality education to the marginalised. It also discusses the roles and responsibilities of various actors entering partnerships and how far the provision of an enabling environment for such arrangements is needed for them to work to reduce social inequality.
