Promoting school choice for the poor: Practical ideas from international experience. A conversation among experts
Key Points:
- Private schools increase school choices for the poor. Building on experience in other developing countries, this report contains practical suggestions on how to grow and support low-fee private schools in poor communities.
- Between 1991 and 2003, private school enrolment grew far more quickly than public school enrolment worldwide. Internationally, the growth in private primary education has been 58%, while the public primary school sector has grown by only 10%. Private primary education grew most in Africa, by 113%.
- Most of the private schooling sector’s expansion in developing countries are for the poor, making schooling accessible for disadvantaged communities and marginalised groups.
- Developing country experiences provide valuable insights into aspects of an effective regulatory environment and important innovations.
- South Africa should aim to increase the number of high-quality private schools to which poor children have access, widen the education choices for all communities and ensure a regulatory environment that creates a level playing field for public and private schools.
