Education Quality and Efficiency in Resource-Constrained Environments: Assessing Bolivian Schools per Sociocultural Context

• In Event: Roundtable Session 57
  In Roundtable Session: Use of Formative and Diagnostic Assessments: Embedded Teaching and Learning Opportunities

Abstract

This paper session compares education quality assessment and resource utilization efficiency for over one hundred and sixty elementary and secondary schools in Bolivia. These schools are part of the Fe y Alegría (FyA) network, which mostly serves culturally diverse communities, many of which are indigenous, in impoverished areas in all provinces (departamentos) of the country. Quality assessment included 125 different indicators, and relative school efficiencies were calculated using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Results are reported per geographic location, per socio-economic level, and per demographic setting. Findings point to the existence of efficient schools in every data subset, an encouraging outcome as best practices can be disseminated across the network. We also point out limitations of the methodology and invite reactions.

Authors

• Joao Neiva de Figueiredo, Saint Joseph's University

• Miguel Angel Marca Barrientos, Fe y Alegria Bolivia