Efficiency of public investment in education in Peru, 2016-2022: A comparative analysis by region

Abstract

The study analyzes the level of technical efficiency of public investment in Education at the primary and secondary level in Peru, 2016 to 2022. Data envelopment analysis – DEA was used and for the association between the provision of resources and educational quality. the panel data fixed effects model. The results indicate that there are relative differences in efficiency between the regions, registering an average score of 49% for the primary level and 38% for the secondary level, with the most efficient being Moquegua, Tacna, Arequipa and Ica, and the least efficient being Loreto, Huánuco, Ucayali, and San Martín. From the input-output association, classroom size, infrastructure in good condition and public investment have a direct relationship, while students per teacher and per computer, the relationship is inverse with respect to educational achievement in communication and mathematics at the primary and secondary level. This suggests that inefficient regions should increase educational attainment at the primary and secondary levels by an average of 51% and 62%, respectively, while maintaining the same level of spending. Therefore, to improve their efficiency within the framework of public policies, they can adopt the management implemented by regions such as Moquegua and Tacna.