The dilemmas of school choice: do parents really 'choose' low-fee private schools in Delhi, India?. Issue 2 (4th March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mousumi, Manjuma Akhtar; Kusakabe, Tatsuya
• Is Part Of: Compare. Volume 49:Issue 2(2019)
• Page Start: 230
• Page End: 248
• Publication Date: 2019-03-04
• Subjects: Private schools -- government schools -- school choice -- South Delhi -- India; Comparative education -- Periodicals; 370.9
• DOI: 10.1080/03057925.2017.1401451
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0305-7925

Abstract

Abstract: The growing number of private schools in India, especially those accepting children from underprivileged households, has been considered demand driven. In contrast to this understanding, this paper argues that low-income parents in Okhla and Badarpur in Delhi, India, are compelled to send their children to private unaided recognised and unrecognised schools. These schools are used as interim schools during primary or elementary grades because of the perceived danger of sending younger children to distant government schools. Our findings show that parents encounter school choice dilemmas in three stages. Parents prefer sending their children to government schools, but being Muslim, they also prefer faith-based teaching in an Islamic environment, which they expect from government schools but not from private schools. Moreover, they prefer schools that offer all grades, do not charge fees, and have honest teachers who teach effectively, are dedicated and affectionate, and will instil discipline in their children.