Inequality in the Quality of Education

Abstract

This study examined inequality in the quality of education by focusing on the extent of performance differences between private and public schools and its socio-economic impact. It aimed at improving the on-going practices of education provision by examining factors that contribute to inequality in quality of education in secondary schools. Specifically, the study wanted to determine the effect of: • Type of school on students' performance; • Direct private costs on students' performance; • Location of school on students' performance; and • Students-teacher ratio on students' performance. The study was done in Kilimanjaro region. The region is bordered to the north and east by Kenya, to the south by Tanga region, to the south-west by Manyara region, and to the west by Arusha region. Kilimanjaro region was chosen because it was among the regions, in Tanzania, which had many secondary schools (government, community, nongovernment, etc.). The population studied was secondary schools, where heads of secondary schools and studentswere interviewed. The region had a total of 305 secondary schools, out of which 213 were public schools and 92 were private schools. The studied sample included 100 secondary schools (70 public schools and 30 private schools). At each school, the headmaster/mistress and one student were interviewed. Also 3 District Education Officers were interviewed. The study used primary data which were both qualitative and quantitative. Primary data were collected through interviewing heads of schools, students and district educational officers. Information collected included the location of the schools (rural or urban), type of school (private or public), total costs of a school per year, policy environment, and Form Four national examinations results for the year 2008.