Private Non-State Sector Engagement in the Provision of Educational Services at the Primary and Secondary Levels in South Asia : An Analytical Review of Its Role in School Enrollment and Student Achievement
Private (non-state) sector engagement in the provision of educational services at the primary and secondary levels in South Asia has recently undergone remarkable growth. This type of education comes in various forms, such as schools financed and m...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Policy Research Working Paper |
| Language: | English en_US |
| Published: |
World Bank, Washington, DC
2014
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2014/06/19604850/private-non-state-sector-engagement-provision-educational-services-primary-secondary-levels-south-asia-analytical-review-role-school-enrollment-student-achievement http://hdl.handle.net/10986/18786 |
| Summary: | Private (non-state) sector engagement in
the provision of educational services at the primary and
secondary levels in South Asia has recently undergone
remarkable growth. This type of education comes in various
forms, such as schools financed and managed by the private
sector, schools financed by the government and managed by
the private sector, private school vouchers, and tutoring
outside the classroom. According to recent household survey
data, almost one-third of school-goers aged 6 to 18 years in
South Asia go to private schools, with a high concentration
in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. Data for India,
Nepal, and Pakistan show that on average, private schools
perform at least as well as government schools on student
test scores, after controlling for socioeconomic factors,
and they do so at significantly lower costs to society.
However, student achievement varies greatly across schools
of each type, with many weak private schools as well as
strong government schools. Substantial, albeit indirect,
evidence points to teacher behavior and accountability as an
important driver of the effectiveness of private schools. In
the long run, however, many factors may play important roles
in sustaining the private sector's advantage. Another
risk is that overall poor quality in a large government
sector may set a low benchmark for the private sector. The
findings cast doubt on the effectiveness of government
regulations for private schools, given weak institutional
capacity. Public-private partnerships with effective
accountability mechanisms could leverage both equity and
efficiency. Finally, it appears important to understand and
customize teaching to the child's individual level. |
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