THE RELATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF PRIVATE AND PUBLIC-SCHOOLS - EVIDENCE FROM 2 DEVELOPING-COUNTRIES

We estimate quality differences between private and public secondary schools in two developing countries: Colombia and Tanzania. Quality is measured by student performance on standardized achievement tests. We focus on the sample selection aspects of making quality comparisons. Estimated sample selection effects suggest that Colombian student sort themselves by type of institution (private or public); but Tanzanian students appear to be selected by a hierarchical mechanism, with worse students entering private institutions. These effects are consistent with the different institutional frameworks for educational choice in these countries. For both countries, private schools offer an achievement advantage. Standardizing for differences in student and school attributes, private school students have higher achievement test scores. © 1990.