At least try innovative solutions

THE latest PPPs (public-private partnerships) are “collaboration schools” being considered in the Western Cape provincial education department as an attempt to bring private sector funding and management expertise into school governing boards.

Already the concept is being tested in five schools (three existing schools in poor communities and two new schools in the Western Cape).

Private sector donors have already committed more than R20-million this year for this pilot project. Not everyone is convinced that this will work, but at least in the Western Cape new solutions are being looked at.

In the development of new hospitals in the Eastern Cape, the PPP concept has been successfully introduced for the Port Alfred New Hospital.

In the NMBM, a PPP approach is being considered for the freeway and street lighting and other public areas.

Recently I put forward a proposal that a “recruitment donation” (tax deductible ) should be payable by all businesses when a university graduate is initially employed. This donation would either be paid into the NSFAS or directly to the university to help fund the “free” tertiary education.

We need to try these innovative ideas. It is surely better to cooperate and collaborate through PPPs than let confrontation and protestation take place?