Public-private partnerships in the Indian education sector can benefit from the experiences of western nations, an education forum has said.

The Global Education & Skills Forum 2013 (GESF), which began yesterday, is being organised in partnership with UNESCO, the Commonwealth Business Council, the Government of Dubai and GEMS Education from March 14-17.

“Public-private partnerships can revolutionise education in India and facilitate growth to help prevent millions of children missing out on quality education. They can raise the standards of education provision in India and help meet the demand for quality education from a growing middle class with increasing incomes,” spokesperson for the Global Education and Skills Forum Chris Kirk, said.

Among the delegates from 46 countries were Bill Clinton, Tony Blair and Shashi Tharoor. Among the issues discussed were the role of private-public partnerships and bringing in private sector management practices to improve competitiveness, increase efficiency and transform the education sector in India, West Asia and Africa.

According to Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO, global companies have their global interests. “But there is something new coming about, and that’s the common understanding that it’s in the private sector’s interest that people are well educated.”

“It’s in the private sector’s interest that markets function, that people are solvent, that the countries are stable. And the private sector is open to innovative methods of cooperation. Tackling complex, global challenges requires innovative and far reaching partnerships between the public and private spheres,” Bokova said.

The forum seeks to highlight the ways to transform education to create a skilled workforce fit for the future and to meet the aspirations of a burgeoning young population in this region.

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