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Fostering Private-Public Partnership In Primary Education Works

In 1990 the Government of Benin decided to reform its primary education system that was in total collapse at the time. Among the components of the reform was the replacement of the old curriculum with a new one that would do away with a system based on rote learning and adopt one that focuses on children and the competencies and skills they should have. As a result of this decision, new programs were developed, experimented in 30 primary schools, and progressively extended, beginning in 1999, to all the 4500 primary schools in Benin. Tied to the introduction of the new curriculum was the development of teaching materials and student textbooks. When the experimental phase was completed in 1999, textbooks, workbooks and other teaching materials based on the new curriculum needed to be produced for 340,000 first grade children. In the interest of strengthening local printers, cost and quick availability, local education authorities decided to have all the development and printing work done locally with the most qualified and experienced writers and printers. This was a gamble which could have compromised the entire reform program and the introduction of the new curriculum in schools, had it failed. Instead, what resulted was a successful partnership between the Ministry of Education, private printers, community and USAID. How did it work?

Three local printers were awarded contracts amounting to a total of $1 million to print 1.7 million French and mathematics textbooks and workbooks. Although the assignment appeared simple and routine for most printers, printers were challenged with strict quality requirements. They had to urgently import more up-to-date materials and recruit and train additional staff.

While a financial burden, the printers viewed the investment and the technology and techniques being acquired as worth the expected return. One printer indicated that in addition to acquiring modern equipment, the contract allowed workers to improve their skills since some equipment required foreign experts to train workers on use and maintenance: a transfer of technology. They reviewed their organization of work to improve performance and meet delivery deadlines. During the two-month production period 200 temporary jobs were created, leading to 20 permanent jobs.

Once production was completed, the Ministry, with financing from USAID/Benin, joined with development partners, parents and private transport companies to distribute books to 4,500 primary schools and 340,000 first grade children. As set under the Fundamental Quality Level (FQL) for primary education, one textbook in math and one in French were available per two students. This made a striking improvement over the previous situation where several students shared one book. The same approach was used in 2000 for the production of second grade materials, utilizing two of the three printers. This time the Ministry of Education assumed financial responsibility for the distribution as it again coordinated its efforts with parents and the private sector.

This private-public partner has aided the education of school children, increased the capacity of private business, and set the stage for future productive development collaborations.

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