Promising education

James Tooley, winner of the first IFC-FT "business and development" essay competition now has another string to his bow. This past week the philanthropic arm of Orient Global, said that it had asked Prof Tooley to act as special adviser on how to invest $100m in private schools for the very poor in developing countries.
Writes the FT in an editorial over the weekend:
Without literacy and numeracy, people are doomed to a life of poverty. Development experts know that. So, too, do parents. Disgusted by corrupt and incompetent public sector provision, many of the world's poorest people are turning to private sector alternatives. This is a fascinating development, on which the world should now build. …
[H]uge potential…. exists for further development of this dynamic sector. Investment, [Tooley] suggests, could go into improved infrastructure, into small-scale research and development, and into the development of branded schools. Brands are a way for business people to establish - and then benefit - from a reputation for quality, including also in the provision of education.
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Posted by Suzanne Smith on February 20, 2007 in Education

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The School of St Jude, in Arusha, Tanzania, is a great example of a private school that successfully provides free education to children from the poorest families.
Established in 2002 with 3 children, this year is has 850 and plans to grow to 2,500 by 2015. In 2006 it had a budget of AUD$1 million.
This success is due almost entirely to the talent and commitment of Gemma Sisia who started the school and is managing its growth. The school is entirely funded from donations, mostly from Australia.
With this as an example, the $100mill that Prof Tooley will have to invest should be invested in a way that builds support from networks of donors otherwise it won't go far.
Check out the School of St Jude at: www.schoolstjude.blogspot.com, and www.schoolofstjude.co.tz.
Perhaps Prof Tooley could use it as a case study.