The Performance of Low Fee Independent Schools in South Africa - What Can Available Data Tell?

Stellenbosch Economic Working Papers No. 01/2017. Stellenbosch.

30 Pages Posted: 28 May 2017

See all articles by Servaas van der Berg

Servaas van der Berg

Stellenbosch University

Chris van Wyk

Stellenbosch University - Department of Economics

Ronelle Burger

Stellenbosch University

Janeli Kotzé

Stellenbosch University

Marlies Piek

Stellenbosch University

Kate Rich

Stellenbosch University

Date Written: 2017

Abstract

This study analysed grade 6 and grade 9 mathematics data from the Annual National Assessment by comparing school performance in public and independent schools in three geographical regions: Western Cape, Gauteng and South Africa as a whole. The aim was to see whether low-fee independent schools outperform public schools i) for schools which have similar school fees and ii) for schools which have similar resources, which is the sum of school fees and government subsidies.

Our analysis indicates that independent primary schools, in all three geographical regions, are able to use resources more efficiently and are thus able to translate resources into better performance. However, when comparing schools in similar school fee brackets, the findings are mixed and vary by geographical area: sending a child to an independent primary school in Gauteng is worthwhile, whereas it is not worthwhile in the Western Cape.

Keywords: education, low fee schools, private schools, independent schools, South Africa

JEL Classification: I21, I24

Suggested Citation

Van der Berg, Servaas and van Wyk, Chris and Burger, Ronelle and Kotzé, Janeli and Piek, Marlies and Rich, Kate, The Performance of Low Fee Independent Schools in South Africa - What Can Available Data Tell? (2017). Stellenbosch Economic Working Papers No. 01/2017. Stellenbosch., Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2973229 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2973229

Servaas Van der Berg (Contact Author)

Stellenbosch University ( email )

Private Bag X1
Stellenbosch, Western Cape 7602
South Africa

Chris Van Wyk

Stellenbosch University - Department of Economics ( email )

Private Bag X1
Matieland, 7602
South Africa

Ronelle Burger

Stellenbosch University ( email )

Private Bag X1
Matieland, 7602
South Africa

Janeli Kotzé

Stellenbosch University ( email )

Private Bag X1
Stellenbosch, Western Cape 7602
South Africa

Marlies Piek

Stellenbosch University ( email )

Private Bag X1
Stellenbosch, Western Cape 7602
South Africa

Kate Rich

Stellenbosch University ( email )

Private Bag X1
Stellenbosch, Western Cape 7602
South Africa

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