The implementation of public-private partnerships in private schools in Astana

Abstract

This study investigates how the implementation of public-private partnerships affects the autonomy of private schools in Astana. Public-private partnership policy in school education is a strategy to improve the quality of learning outcomes and solve the issue of public schools overcrowding. With this policy, the government provides per-student financing to attend private schools and supports entrepreneurs to open new private schools. In a considerable future perspective, the government assumes that more private schools in the education market, along with the implementation of per-capita financing, will create a competitive market, which could improve the quality of education provision in schools. Based on this assumption, this study used a qualitative approach to explore how the government will evaluate and monitor the performance of private schools while keeping their autonomy in decision-making. After analysing the data of the semi-structured interviews with the schools’ administrations, government representatives, parents, teachers, and educational experts, this research study found that the academic, financial and human resource autonomy of private schools have not changed, and they are continuing to improve the quality of education delivery in order to be competitive in the education market....