Public-private partnership practices to transform textbook publishing and distribution: Nepal’s experience for quality education

Abstract

Studying public-private partnership practices in textbook publishing and distribution in Nepal offers insights into effective strategies for improving education quality through collaboration between government and private sectors. The objective of the study is to assess the effectiveness of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in enhancing education quality through improved textbook publishing and distribution mechanisms. The methodology employed in this study integrates descriptive and explanatory research approaches. It utilizes a structured questionnaire comprising 40 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale to evaluate different dimensions of PPPs concerning school textbook publication and distribution in Nepal. In this study, representatives from private organizations involved in textbook publishing and distribution in Nepal were interviewed. Sampling is conducted through random selection from a pool of 390 private organizations, aiming to ensure representation across various sectors. The model developed from this analysis had a strong explanatory power, with the identified independent variables explaining up to 48% of the variability in improving education quality through PPPs. The study concludes that emphasizing transparency, accountability, and effective communication within public-private partnerships significantly contributes to enhancing education quality through improved textbook publishing and distribution mechanisms, supported by strong correlations between these factors and overall education quality, as revealed by advanced statistical methods.