Education Privatisation in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract This chapter examines how education privatisation in sub-Saharan Africa has developed, with particular attention given to its political and historical diversity. Drawing on a narrative review of recent scholarship, it is argued that privatisation cannot be viewed as a single model or phenomenon. Instead, it should be seen as a complex process that is context-sensitive and formed by a wide range of actors. These include international financial institutions, donor agencies, transnational networks, national governments, and local communities. The chapter explores both the push and pull factors contributing to the growth of privatisation, the hybrid governance structures that emerge, and the broader global architectures influencing national education policy. The chapter argues that nine key themes arise from the literature on education privatisation in sub-Saharan Africa. It also provides a more complex view of education privatisation in sub-Saharan Africa and challenges simplistic distinctions between public and private, calling for a more refined understanding of how education is negotiated, delivered, and governed.