Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in Smart Education: The Case of Ghana

Ghana still adopts the old system of teaching and learning even when the world is moving to a state full of technology. A report by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning indicates that the country is in critical challenges when it comes to infrastructure development and public service delivery not only in the education sector but all the various institution as a whole. These infrastructure development and public service delivery serves as the pillar for the counties economic growth (Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, 2011 report) and there is the need to address such issue. Some researchers pinpoint to the fact that the best way to solve this problem is when there is collaboration between the government and other private companies, thus Public-Private Partnership (PPP). The Government of Ghana has placed a strong emphasis on the role of ICT in contributing to the country's educational system which was captured in the country's medium-term development plan in the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (GPRS I & II) and the Education Strategic Plan 2003-2015. The government alone don't have enough funds necessary to cater for the costs of the ICT project. Hence, there is the need for the government to collaborate with other private companies to bridge this gap. In 2008, the president of Ghana contracted which is one of the best communication companies in Ghana when it comes to assembling of electronic equipment's such as computers, phones etc. to provide mini laptops to some schools across Ghana. This was a good step towards teaching and learning. Furthermore, the government can again get into contact with Institute of Professional Management College (IPMC) which is the best IT Company when it comes to designing of software and programming. This IT Companies will design teaching and learning software's and programs to aid teaching and learning as done in countries like China, USA, India, South African and other countries. The benefits these private companies will get in both short and long run by rendering their service to the government includes; students and teachers will advertise these private companies product for them since it have been used by students and teachers. They will recommend their products to others to buy. The government will again give these private companies other contracts in other institutions since they are now tested and trusted. The students and teachers can come out with new technological ideas to help improve their products