School choice and parental preferences in a poor area of Monrovia. (March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Longfield, David; Tooley, James
• Is Part Of: International journal of educational development. Volume 53(2017)
• Page Start: 117
• Page End: 127
• Publication Date: 2017-03
• Subjects: Out of school children -- Girls' education -- Low-cost private schools -- Liberia -- School choice -- Schooling decisions; Education -- Periodicals; Education -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Education -- Economic aspects -- Periodicals; Education -- Periodicals; Éducation -- Périodiques; Education; Periodicals; 370.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2016.08.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0738-0593

Abstract

Highlights: 72% of school-aged children went to private school, 9% went to government school. There was no evidence of gender bias in school enrolment in these families. Half the children aged 3–5 were enrolled in pre-school education. Key school-choice factors were teacher quality, academic performance and discipline. Most parents preferred a private school over a government school for their children. Abstract: This household survey was conducted in a slum of Monrovia, Liberia. It found 72% of children aged 6–14 were in private school, 9.1% in government school and 18.8% out of school. Half of children aged 3–5 (i.e. below compulsory school age) were enrolled in schools. The research did not find any evidence that girls were more likely to be out of school than boys or that families differentially choose to send their boys to school in preference to their girls. Whatever school their children attended, the educational decision makers generally viewed the private schools more favourably than the government alternative.