The efficiency of schools in developing countries, analysed through PISA 2012 data

Tommaso Agasisti () and Pablo Zoido

Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, 2019, vol. 68, issue C

Abstract: This paper analyses the efficiency of more than 6800 schools in 28 developing countries, by means of a two-stage Data Envelopment Analysis and using data from OECD PISA 2012. The results reveal that the average efficiency of schools is around 70%, meaning that achievement scores can be raised by 30% by employing a more effective use of available resources. Substantial heterogeneity exists both between and within countries; in general, efficiency scores are higher when comparing schools only with those in the same country. Among factors associated with schools' efficiency, the most important are the characteristics of student population (for instance, motivation, truancy, etc.). Therefore, some practices related to accountability, teachers’ involvement and professional development, and extracurricular activities are also positively associated with higher levels of efficiency.

Keywords: Schools' efficiency; Data envelopment analysis (DEA); Developing countries; Educational policies; OECD-PISA 2012 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I21 I25 I28 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (14)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:soceps:v:68:y:2019:i:c:s0038012118303227

DOI: 10.1016/j.seps.2019.05.002

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