Thanks for this Graham. I (I think like you) are suspicious of the motivations of the private sector when it becomes involved in the delivery of what could be called “the common good” perhaps defined as those basic human rights. The core natuire of the private sector is to make profit and despite the claims of those involved in the acadamies system in the UK there has been a significant amount of capital flowing from public taxation into the coffers of private companies despite their charitable status; not least in the salaries of senior staff and the outsourcing of provision to associated organisations.

However, as you also point out, the school system in places like Liberia (and in other places) are complex and in a terrible mess and it might be that we need a combination of private and public funding in place to help provide a future for these children. For me the key words in any such provision much be transparecy and overnight/regulatation. From the excellent invesitagive work you have carried out I am not sure we have enough of either of these in the Liberian case (as we do not in the UK acadamisation process).

I still watch for, and read with interest, future postings.