Public-Private Partnership and Sustainability of the Educational Sector: The Impact on Anambra State Secondary Schools

Abstract

This study examined public-private partnership (PPP) and the sustainability of the educational sector, with specific focus on the impact of such partnerships on secondary schools in Anambra State, Nigeria. Chronic underfunding, deteriorating infrastructure, and inadequate instructional materials have continued to threaten the quality and sustainability of secondary education in the state, prompting government and stakeholders to explore collaborative funding and management arrangements with private organisations, non-governmental agencies, and corporate bodies. Anchored on Stakeholder Theory and Resource Dependency Theory, the study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population comprised principals, vice-principals, and teachers in public secondary schools across the six education zones of Anambra State, from which a sample was drawn using a multi-stage sampling technique. A structured questionnaire titled "Public-Private Partnership and Sustainability of Secondary Education Questionnaire (PPPSSEQ)" served as the instrument for data collection, validated by experts in Educational Administration and Planning, with reliability established through Cronbach's Alpha. Data collected were analysed using mean, standard deviation, and chi-square statistics at 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that public-private partnership significantly improved infrastructural development, availability of instructional resources, and overall sustainability of secondary schools in the state, although challenges such as poor policy implementation, weak monitoring frameworks, and limited private sector willingness were identified as constraints. The study concluded that public-private partnership, if properly harnessed, holds strong potential for ensuring the sustainability of secondary education in Anambra State. It was recommended, among others, that the state government should strengthen the legal and regulatory framework guiding PPP arrangements and institute transparent monitoring mechanisms to sustain private sector confidence and participation.