In recent years developing countries have expanded their government education systems in an attempt to meet the Millennium Development Goal on education by 2015. One consequence has been a dramatic growth in low-cost private education institutions, which are increasingly being seen as a popular alternative to the public education system. Using independent first-hand research, this study investigates the low-cost private education sector in India, Nigeria and Uganda. The contributors explain the mushrooming of these schools and consider the impact they have on access to education for the poor. They argue that with proper regulation, supervision and government support, private schools can help to achieve education for all by filling gaps in public education. This study will serve as an invaluable resource to anyone interested in educational planning and policy in developing countries.Contributors: Subir Shukla works on quality improvement of educational systems in India and other South Asian countries including Afghanistan. Formerly Chief Consultant to the Government of India, Shukla is now an independent consultant to state and national governments, NGOs and INGOs, and international bodies such as UNICEF. Priti Joshi teaches Human and Child Development at the University of Delhi. Her major research has been on the inclusion of children with disabilities in regular schools.Dr Abdurrahman Umar is the Director of Academic Services at the National Teachers' Institute in Kaduna, Nigeria. His research interests and publications include education for disadvantaged groups particularly nomads, basic education, teacher development, and open and distance learning.Simon Kisira is the Monitoring and Evaluation Programme Officer for a Social Action Fund Project funded by Government of Uganda and the World Bank. He holds a postgraduate diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation from the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa and a Bachelor of Statistics and Economics from Makerere University in Kampala. Ian Smith is the Managing Director of Buani Consulting and has been closely involved in educational development in East Africa over the last quarter of a century. He is an education financing expert and an experienced trainer.Bob Phillipson is a public policy adviser and campaigner whose work has covered such issues as critical care for newborns, alcohol related crime, social enterprise, refugee assistance, water management across the Middle East and primary education.