Ensuring quality education? Low-fee private schools and government regulation in three sub-Saharan African capitals

Abstract

Low-fee private schools are currently relied upon by many low-income families, particularly in urban areas under-served by government. A common response includes calls for effective regulation if they are to be allowed to operate. This paper goes beyond the common theoretically-based perspectives and documents key stakeholders’ experiences, and finds that Ministries of Education in three African capital cities are failing in their roles as regulators of both government and private education. Unrealistic regulations and under-resourced inspectorates have resulted in patchy oversight systems of which rent-seeking has become an integral part, failing most school-going children.