Constrained school choice in Egypt

Abstract

This paper examines patterns of school choice in Egypt from primary through higher education. We use a mixed-methods approach, combining survey data with qualitative in-depth interviews to explore schooling decisions. We find that attendance of private education institutions has increased over time but only at the university level. Azhari (Islamic religious) school attendance at the pre-university level has increased over time. Multivariate models show that girls are more likely than boys to attend public schools. Students from higher socio-economic status households are the most likely to attend private schools, while Azhari schools are attended by students of diverse socio-economic backgrounds. Yet in most geographic areas school “choice” at the pre-university level is effectively limited to public schools. When choices are available, qualitative data indicate that families still tend to prefer public schools due to their low cost, although private and religious schools are generally perceived to be of higher quality.