Analysis of Parental Choice on Pre-primary School in Meherpur Districts of Bangladesh

• In Event: Parental engagement

Proposal

Pre-primary education has become an important topic for researchers and policymakers due to its high economic returns and potential to reduce social inequalities. Reflecting on the global recognition of the positive effects of the preschool program, universal access to pre-primary education is one of the policy priorities in many developing countries. Since 2014, the Bangladesh government has implemented a universal pre-primary education policy for five-year-old children under the Third Primary Education Development Program (PEDP-3). Pre-primary school attendance strongly predicts short-term children’s development and long-term positive impact on their higher level educational attainment, earnings, and well-being. Especially, parents, who are managers of the family, make decisions for the future success or failure of their family. Choosing a pre-primary school for their children involves the design of the future benefits and the amount of costs to be paid. However, little is known about how the determinants of pre-primary school types under universal pre-primary education in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).

The aim of this study is to examine the determinants of parental choice in pre-primary school types in Bangladesh. This study set two research questions; RQ1. To what extent does household SES predict pre-primary school type and pre-primary school fees?; RQ1-2. What are the parental preferences and constraints in the parental decision-making process in Bangladeshi pre-primary schools?. Bon the theoretical assumption of rational choice theory (e.x., Individuals will choose actions rationally based on prioritizing preferences and values to maximize benefits or rewards, and minimize costs or risks), two hypothesis is tested: Hypothesis 1. Higher household SES predicts private pre-primary school attendance, Hypothesis 2. Higher household SES predicts higher expensive school fees for private pre-primary school children. To test these two hypotheses, this study used a multinomial logit regression model (non-enrollment=0, public=1, and private =2) for four years old children. and probit model (public=1, private=2) for five years old children to identify independent variables that significantly predict pre-primary school attendance or pre-primary school types. The estimated results are presented by marginal effects to make interpretation easier. By doing this, this study will capture the determinants of pre-primary school types as well as differences within the same pre-primary school type. This study analyzes Bangladesh Early Years Preschool Program Impact Evaluation in 2017, 2018, and 2019, which was conducted in the Meherpur districts in Bangladesh and supported by the American Institutes for Research and the World Bank. The Meherpur district is one of the lowest pre-primary school enrollment rate for four years old children and relatively disadvantaged areas in Bangladesh. There are several types of pre-primary school existing in this district.

The study found that factors related to household socioeconomic status (SES) strongly predict pre-primary school types in Bangladesh. Notably, children from high parental education levels and rich household wealth are more likely to be enrolled in private pre-primary schools. Also, children from low parental education levels and poor household wealth are more likely to be not enrolled in pre-primary school or enrolled in public pre-primary school. This result indicates that the first hypothesis is supported. Within private pre-primary schools, higher SES children are likely to pay more school fees, while there are no statistical differences in school fees to be paid within public pre-primary schools. This result partially supports the second hypothesis. The estimated results suggest that there is unequal access to private pre-primary schools in Meherpur districts of Bangladesh. The Bangladeshi government has been implementing universal pre-primary education and pre-primary school enrollment increased 90% in 2022. However, there might be still unequal access to high-quality pre-primary schools in Bangladesh. Of course, the parental decision-making process is a far more complex mechanism than what this study has identified. It would be necessary to conduct further analysis on parental preference and constraints on pre-primary school choice by conducting interviews with parents.

Author

• Kohei Uno, Kobe University