A recent research report on “Education in India : Status and Opportunities” by Fortress Financial Services throws up some startling figures:

– Gross Enrolment Rate (GER) in the Play School and Pre School Education Segment is 18%.

– Drop Out Rate in the Elementary Education Segment (Standards 1 – VIII) is 48%.

– 24% schools in the Elementary Education Segment (Standards 1 – VIII) do not have a proper school building.

– 8% schools in the Elementary Education Segment (Standards 1 – VIII) lack drinking water facilities.

– Gross Enrolment Rate (GER) at the Lower Secondary Level (Standards IX and X) is 52%, while at the Senior Secondary Level (Standards XI and XII) is 28% (2005-06).

– Enrolment in the Higher Education Segment (beyond Standard XII) is 13% (2006).

– Public funding in the Higher Education Segment (beyond Standard XII) is 0.6% of GDP (2006).

These shocking numbers mean that there are tremendous opportunities for Public Private Partnership (PPP) in areas such as:

– Contracting out failing state schools

– Building school infrastructure in rural areas

– Open schooling

– Commissioning education cities and theme schools

– Capacity building

– Project implementation/ management of government educational schemes

Moreover, there are opportunities for private service providers to set up:

– Play Schools

– Teachers Training Institutes

– Universities and Private Colleges

– Private Open Universities and Distance Education

– Vocational Training Institutes

– Coaching Classes and Competitive Test Preparation Centres

A significant increase in computer population, internet users and broadband penetration across the country in the last decade means that ICT and E-Learning in Education is expected to grow considerably in the near future. Private service providers will therefore have an important role to play in building the IT infrastructure and digitizing curriculum content for the education segment.