Private Sector in the USA - Assignment Example

--------------------------- --------------------------- --------------------------- --------------------------- Private sector Introduction The standard assumption among anti-poverty campaigners is that education leads to development. In today's world, where competition is increasing to the utmost, quality of education should also improve to satisfy market needs. This calls for private sector involvement of private sector in education. This paper deals with role of private sector in education1.

Public sector The federal share represents vary small percentage of total education spending. Elementary and secondary school enrollment is increasing gradually. This place unprecedented pressure for space on all public schools, but will be particularly severe in overcrowded, urban schools2. This calls for infrastructure development, and thus huge investment. Despite rapidly increasing government expenditure in education, real expenditures per pupil are increasing. Property-tax relief efforts and calls for more equitable funding across rich and poor school districts have increasingly led states to pick up a greater percentage of education costs.

Basic needs for today's market are3: higher Skilled labor force Internationalization investment in R&D more flexible skills use of new technologies Programs producing employable trained labor Program flexibility Prepare students for global workplace Credit transfer - national and cross-border Systems that accommodate lifelong learners Quality assurance and quality improvement systems4 Private sector involvement can improve this situation. Private sector "Education may or may not spark development, depending on whether economic conditions favor it, but development certainly can spark an educational takeoff.

" Privatization could provide an appropriate response to public education offering opportunities both for reducing costs and infusing private-sector funds into the education system. Schools are struggling to raise money to maintain existing buildings and to build new schools in order to keep up with increasing enrollment5. Private-sector involvement in education can provide infrastructure, and this may be one of the more politically acceptable methods of, since neither teachers nor students are directly involved.

Providing classroom space, buildings, or land, Furnishing or equipping existing classroom space, providing maintenance services and utilities, providing teaching programs, Managing schools or school districts, Negotiating management deals that include provision of infrastructure are some of the issues where private sector can contribute in education6. The emergence of diverse privatization responses to inadequate public resources, coupled with some legislative restructuring (school choice and open enrollment plans) in public schools, can result in substantial cost savings.

Public/private partnerships can increase saving potential, as an alternative to increased taxes and service cuts and in response to growing school enrollments and increasing costs7. In addition, the company may implement a smaller student-teacher ratio, continued teacher training, and increased use of technology teacher's salary and benefits, books, supplies, furniture, equipment etc.8 Another key area where private agencies can make significant contribution is skill training to help children who did not move beyond school education, to come up in life.

Private sectors can give away grants and scholarships to deserving candidates. Business organizations can influence the quality of future workers and can encourage improved performance in several ways9: Executive programs, where corporate executives work in specialized areas such as administration, staff development, or resource management. Curriculum renewal programs, where corporate executives work with educators to develop curricula that reflects private-sector technology, standards and practice.

Mentor programs, where professionals have linked with individual students. Donation of equipment to schools. Programs between business and intermediary organizations to raise awareness, or improve particular courses10. If Maximization of profits is not the exclusive objective of Private sector activities, private sector can11: Contribute to R & D in various productive sectors, productivity and quality of goods & services produced Contribute to raising the level of human resources by continuous training Plan development of HR and productivity of the various sectors Improve management of the economy12 Increased employment opportunities for skilled workers and University graduates Acceptance of competitive environment Organize continuous training of manpower Identify responsibilities of each Agent in promoting employment, best practices, productivity, R & D Social responsibilities and in particular creation of adequate number of employment opportunities Conclusion Business's involvement in the public schools is not born of altruism; it is result of need for educated and educable workers13.

That involvement has prompted industry to think about education differently-as an opportunity for entrepreneurship, innovation, competition, and compensation based on productivity. Public-private partnerships can be proven a useful tool for school districts to achieve costs savings, meet infrastructure needs, and improve academic standards, while also maintaining public-school services. Public-private partnership requires strong accountability, with corporate contributions tied to educational achievement.

As a result, they are more likely to provide real benefits in education. Thus government should allow private sector to come forward to promote education to transform world into a knowledge-based and wealth-creating society. References "Bigger role for private sector in secondary education needed" Chauhan, Ashok. David, Anna. "Public-private partnerships: the private sector and innovation in education." Number 142, July 1992. George, Thomas."Education in private sector" "Govt.

panel favors private sector in education" April, 2008. Ghosh, Jayati. "On reservations in the private sector". Volume 22 - Issue 22, Oct. 22 - Nov. 04, 2005.India's National Magazine from the publishers of THE HINDU Mahadevan, G. "It is not about just getting jobs" Nair, P. "Education and the Private Sector". Vol.36, No.2 June 2004. "Private sector has big role in education". Feb, 2008