Determinants of School Choice: Understanding How Parents’ Choose Primary School for Their Children in Arba Minch, Southern Ethiopia

Tilahun Bedaso Merga; Belay Shobisso Sofamo

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijdst.20200601.15

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Determinants of School Choice: Understanding How Parents’ Choose Primary School for Their Children in Arba Minch, Southern Ethiopia

Tilahun Bedaso Merga, Belay Shobisso Sofamo

Published in International Journal on Data Science and Technology (Volume 6, Issue 1)

Received: 11 December 2019 Accepted: 25 December 2019 Published: 8 January 2020

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Abstract

Almost all parents want to educate their children in the best possible educational environment. Their decision to invest in children depends on a number of social, economic and cultural factors. Education in Ethiopia is offering by both public and private sector educational institutions. It is free of cost in public schools whereas in private schools, the parents have to bear the financial burden. For the last two decades private sector is emerging as an important source of imparting education in Ethiopia particularly in the study area. Many aspects regarding the education system of Ethiopia have been discussed in various studies so far. However, the factors which motivate the parents to make a decision about private sector are yet to be explored. The present study was conducted in Arba Minch town to scrutinize the factors which motivate the parents to educate their children in private schools. Primary data was collected for this purpose from 119 parents of elementary school students. The results were derived by using descriptive as well as inferential analysis. The logistic regression analysis suggests that parents’ perceptions play an important role in the school-choice decision. In particular, perceptions of school quality, cost of school, and teacher performance emerge as key determinants of private school choice. Additionally, age of the child, monthly income of household, distance from home to school, and numbers of children in family have a significant impact on parents’ probability of choosing a private school for their child. In the context of Ethiopia, we can therefore conclude that the school-choice decision is a combination of child, household and school characteristics. Moreover, these findings are important in unraveling the factors based on which parents decide which type of school to send their children.

Published in	International Journal on Data Science and Technology (Volume 6, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijdst.20200601.15
Page(s)	37-43
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Determinant, School Choice, Binary Logistic Regression

References

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[3]	Seboka, Berhanu, "School Choice And Policy Response: A Comparative Context Between Private And Public Schools In Urban Ethiopia" (2003). International Conference on African Development Archives. Paper 59. http://scholarworks.wmich.edu/africancenter_icad_archive/59.
[4]	Ahmed, H., Amjad, S., Habib, M. and Shah, S. A. (2013). Determinants of School Choice: Evidence from Rural Punjab, Pakistan. Lahore School of Economics- CREB Working Paper No. 01-13.
[5]	Hastings, J. S. and Weinstein, J. (2008). Information, School Choice, and Academic Achievement: Evidence from Two Experiments, Quarterly Journal of Economics, 123 (4): 1373-1414.
[6]	Exley, S. (2011), Parental freedom to choose and educational equality. In Park, A., Clery, E., Curtice, J., Phillips, M. and Utting, D. (eds), British Social Attitudes 28, London: Sage.
[7]	Hastings, J. S., Kane, T. J. and Staiger, D. O. (2007). Preferences and Heterogeneous Treatment Effects in a Public School Choice Lottery, NBER Working Paper No. 12145, 2007.
[8]	Allen, R., Burgess, S. and McKenna, L. (2014). School performance and parental choice: Secondary data analysis. Research Report for the Depart of Education UK.
[9]	Leroux, G. (2015). Choosing to succeed: Do parents pick the right schools? Social Market Foundation http://www.smf.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Social-Market- FoundationPublication_SMF-Briefing_Choosing-to-succeed_Do-parents-pick-the-right-schools_160114WEB.pdf.
[10]	Burgess, S. Greaves, E. and Vignoles, A. (2010). What parents want? School preferences and school choice. CMPO: DoQSS Working Paper No. 09-01. Institute of Education: London Available at: http://repec.ioe.ac.uk/REPEc/pdf/qsswp0901.pdf.
[11]	Andrabi, T., Das, J., Khwaja, A. I., Vishwanath, T., and Zajonc, T. (2007). Learning and education achievements in Punjab schools (LEAPS): Insights to inform the education policy debate. Washington, DC: World Bank.
[12]	Nishimura, M. and Yamano T. (2008). School Choice between Public and Private Primary Schools under the Free Primary Education Policy in Kenya. Kobe University: GRIPS Policy Information Centre. Discussion Paper: 08-02.
[13]	Iram, N., Hussain, Z., Anwar, S., Hussain, I., & Akram, W. (2008). Determinants of child school choice in Punjab: Policy implications. European Journal of Scientific Research, 23 (2), 285–293.
[14]	Lloyd, C. B., Mete, C., & Sathar, Z. A. (2005). The effect of gender differences in primary school access, type, and quality on the decision to enroll in rural Pakistan. Economic Development and Cultural Change, 53 (3), 685–710.
[15]	Glick, P., & Sahn, D. E. (2006), “The demand for primary schooling in Madagascar: price, quality, and the choice between public and private providers”. Journal of Development Economics, 79 (1), pp. 118–145.
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APA Style

Tilahun Bedaso Merga, Belay Shobisso Sofamo. (2020). Determinants of School Choice: Understanding How Parents’ Choose Primary School for Their Children in Arba Minch, Southern Ethiopia. International Journal on Data Science and Technology, 6(1), 37-43. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijdst.20200601.15

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ACS Style

Tilahun Bedaso Merga; Belay Shobisso Sofamo. Determinants of School Choice: Understanding How Parents’ Choose Primary School for Their Children in Arba Minch, Southern Ethiopia. Int. J. Data Sci. Technol. 2020, 6(1), 37-43. doi: 10.11648/j.ijdst.20200601.15

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AMA Style

Tilahun Bedaso Merga, Belay Shobisso Sofamo. Determinants of School Choice: Understanding How Parents’ Choose Primary School for Their Children in Arba Minch, Southern Ethiopia. Int J Data Sci Technol. 2020;6(1):37-43. doi: 10.11648/j.ijdst.20200601.15

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@article{10.11648/j.ijdst.20200601.15,
  author = {Tilahun Bedaso Merga and Belay Shobisso Sofamo},
  title = {Determinants of School Choice: Understanding How Parents’ Choose Primary School for Their Children in Arba Minch, Southern Ethiopia},
  journal = {International Journal on Data Science and Technology},
  volume = {6},
  number = {1},
  pages = {37-43},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijdst.20200601.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijdst.20200601.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijdst.20200601.15},
  abstract = {Almost all parents want to educate their children in the best possible educational environment. Their decision to invest in children depends on a number of social, economic and cultural factors. Education in Ethiopia is offering by both public and private sector educational institutions. It is free of cost in public schools whereas in private schools, the parents have to bear the financial burden. For the last two decades private sector is emerging as an important source of imparting education in Ethiopia particularly in the study area. Many aspects regarding the education system of Ethiopia have been discussed in various studies so far. However, the factors which motivate the parents to make a decision about private sector are yet to be explored. The present study was conducted in Arba Minch town to scrutinize the factors which motivate the parents to educate their children in private schools. Primary data was collected for this purpose from 119 parents of elementary school students. The results were derived by using descriptive as well as inferential analysis. The logistic regression analysis suggests that parents’ perceptions play an important role in the school-choice decision. In particular, perceptions of school quality, cost of school, and teacher performance emerge as key determinants of private school choice. Additionally, age of the child, monthly income of household, distance from home to school, and numbers of children in family have a significant impact on parents’ probability of choosing a private school for their child. In the context of Ethiopia, we can therefore conclude that the school-choice decision is a combination of child, household and school characteristics. Moreover, these findings are important in unraveling the factors based on which parents decide which type of school to send their children.},
 year = {2020}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Determinants of School Choice: Understanding How Parents’ Choose Primary School for Their Children in Arba Minch, Southern Ethiopia
AU  - Tilahun Bedaso Merga
AU  - Belay Shobisso Sofamo
Y1  - 2020/01/08
PY  - 2020
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DO  - 10.11648/j.ijdst.20200601.15
T2  - International Journal on Data Science and Technology
JF  - International Journal on Data Science and Technology
JO  - International Journal on Data Science and Technology
SP  - 37
EP  - 43
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2472-2235
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijdst.20200601.15
AB  - Almost all parents want to educate their children in the best possible educational environment. Their decision to invest in children depends on a number of social, economic and cultural factors. Education in Ethiopia is offering by both public and private sector educational institutions. It is free of cost in public schools whereas in private schools, the parents have to bear the financial burden. For the last two decades private sector is emerging as an important source of imparting education in Ethiopia particularly in the study area. Many aspects regarding the education system of Ethiopia have been discussed in various studies so far. However, the factors which motivate the parents to make a decision about private sector are yet to be explored. The present study was conducted in Arba Minch town to scrutinize the factors which motivate the parents to educate their children in private schools. Primary data was collected for this purpose from 119 parents of elementary school students. The results were derived by using descriptive as well as inferential analysis. The logistic regression analysis suggests that parents’ perceptions play an important role in the school-choice decision. In particular, perceptions of school quality, cost of school, and teacher performance emerge as key determinants of private school choice. Additionally, age of the child, monthly income of household, distance from home to school, and numbers of children in family have a significant impact on parents’ probability of choosing a private school for their child. In the context of Ethiopia, we can therefore conclude that the school-choice decision is a combination of child, household and school characteristics. Moreover, these findings are important in unraveling the factors based on which parents decide which type of school to send their children.
VL  - 6
IS  - 1
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Author Information

Tilahun Bedaso Merga

Department of Statistics, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
Belay Shobisso Sofamo

Department of Statistics, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia

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APA Style

Tilahun Bedaso Merga, Belay Shobisso Sofamo. (2020). Determinants of School Choice: Understanding How Parents’ Choose Primary School for Their Children in Arba Minch, Southern Ethiopia. International Journal on Data Science and Technology, 6(1), 37-43. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijdst.20200601.15

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ACS Style

Tilahun Bedaso Merga; Belay Shobisso Sofamo. Determinants of School Choice: Understanding How Parents’ Choose Primary School for Their Children in Arba Minch, Southern Ethiopia. Int. J. Data Sci. Technol. 2020, 6(1), 37-43. doi: 10.11648/j.ijdst.20200601.15

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AMA Style

Tilahun Bedaso Merga, Belay Shobisso Sofamo. Determinants of School Choice: Understanding How Parents’ Choose Primary School for Their Children in Arba Minch, Southern Ethiopia. Int J Data Sci Technol. 2020;6(1):37-43. doi: 10.11648/j.ijdst.20200601.15

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@article{10.11648/j.ijdst.20200601.15,
  author = {Tilahun Bedaso Merga and Belay Shobisso Sofamo},
  title = {Determinants of School Choice: Understanding How Parents’ Choose Primary School for Their Children in Arba Minch, Southern Ethiopia},
  journal = {International Journal on Data Science and Technology},
  volume = {6},
  number = {1},
  pages = {37-43},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijdst.20200601.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijdst.20200601.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijdst.20200601.15},
  abstract = {Almost all parents want to educate their children in the best possible educational environment. Their decision to invest in children depends on a number of social, economic and cultural factors. Education in Ethiopia is offering by both public and private sector educational institutions. It is free of cost in public schools whereas in private schools, the parents have to bear the financial burden. For the last two decades private sector is emerging as an important source of imparting education in Ethiopia particularly in the study area. Many aspects regarding the education system of Ethiopia have been discussed in various studies so far. However, the factors which motivate the parents to make a decision about private sector are yet to be explored. The present study was conducted in Arba Minch town to scrutinize the factors which motivate the parents to educate their children in private schools. Primary data was collected for this purpose from 119 parents of elementary school students. The results were derived by using descriptive as well as inferential analysis. The logistic regression analysis suggests that parents’ perceptions play an important role in the school-choice decision. In particular, perceptions of school quality, cost of school, and teacher performance emerge as key determinants of private school choice. Additionally, age of the child, monthly income of household, distance from home to school, and numbers of children in family have a significant impact on parents’ probability of choosing a private school for their child. In the context of Ethiopia, we can therefore conclude that the school-choice decision is a combination of child, household and school characteristics. Moreover, these findings are important in unraveling the factors based on which parents decide which type of school to send their children.},
 year = {2020}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Determinants of School Choice: Understanding How Parents’ Choose Primary School for Their Children in Arba Minch, Southern Ethiopia
AU  - Tilahun Bedaso Merga
AU  - Belay Shobisso Sofamo
Y1  - 2020/01/08
PY  - 2020
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijdst.20200601.15
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijdst.20200601.15
T2  - International Journal on Data Science and Technology
JF  - International Journal on Data Science and Technology
JO  - International Journal on Data Science and Technology
SP  - 37
EP  - 43
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2472-2235
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijdst.20200601.15
AB  - Almost all parents want to educate their children in the best possible educational environment. Their decision to invest in children depends on a number of social, economic and cultural factors. Education in Ethiopia is offering by both public and private sector educational institutions. It is free of cost in public schools whereas in private schools, the parents have to bear the financial burden. For the last two decades private sector is emerging as an important source of imparting education in Ethiopia particularly in the study area. Many aspects regarding the education system of Ethiopia have been discussed in various studies so far. However, the factors which motivate the parents to make a decision about private sector are yet to be explored. The present study was conducted in Arba Minch town to scrutinize the factors which motivate the parents to educate their children in private schools. Primary data was collected for this purpose from 119 parents of elementary school students. The results were derived by using descriptive as well as inferential analysis. The logistic regression analysis suggests that parents’ perceptions play an important role in the school-choice decision. In particular, perceptions of school quality, cost of school, and teacher performance emerge as key determinants of private school choice. Additionally, age of the child, monthly income of household, distance from home to school, and numbers of children in family have a significant impact on parents’ probability of choosing a private school for their child. In the context of Ethiopia, we can therefore conclude that the school-choice decision is a combination of child, household and school characteristics. Moreover, these findings are important in unraveling the factors based on which parents decide which type of school to send their children.
VL  - 6
IS  - 1
ER  -

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