Public sector organisations are established in order to promote the quality of citizen’s
lives through the provision of public services. However, the demands for public services
often outstrip the limited resources at the disposal of the public sector for the delivery
of such services. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are emerging as an important tool
of public policy to deliver public infrastructure and the attendant services.
The main aim of this study is to establish the extent to which PPPs can be used to
improve the quality of the delivery of secondary education in the Gaborone City area in
Botswana. The study includes a conceptual analysis of the nature of the public services
in general, and in particular, the nature and the provision of secondary education in
Botswana with specific reference to the Gaborone City area. The study also includes a
conceptual analysis of PPPs as gleaned from published literature. Various dimensions of
PPPs are analysed and these include but are not limited to definitions, benefits, models
and the antecedents for the successful implementation of PPPs. Among the various
models that are analysed in the study, the design, build, operate and finance (DBOF)
model is preferred for improving the quality of the delivery of secondary education in
the Gaborone City area in Botswana.
In addition to the conceptual analysis, an empirical research study is undertaken in
which the secondary school heads are the respondents to a structured questionnaire.
The results of the empirical research support the conceptual analysis to the extent that
in both cases, it is possible to improve the quality of the delivery of secondary
education through PPPs. More secondary schools can be built and more facilities be
made available to schools. Through the use of PPPs, most if not all learners can receive
the entire secondary education programme, from junior to senior secondary education.
Existing secondary schools can be modernised through PPPs. Ancillary services can be
delivered by the organisations that have the necessary expertise. Certain antecedents
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for the successful implementation of PPPs are necessary. Through PPPs, secondary
schools can be made attractive and intellectually stimulating.