Abstract
Scarce human and fiscal resources of high value are spent in the field of education. Thus, the concept of efficiency, and particularly technical efficiency, that refers to the maximization of outputs at a given set of inputs, can be a possible contribution to the design of education policy and administration; mostly at a time of economic crisis as this in Greece, research could assist in formulating proposals on how resources are actually used within education structures/services, as well as in providing guidance to those responsible for the internal allocation of funds so as to secure greater educational results and benefits. The aim of this study is to measure the degree of technical efficiency of the 23 High Schools (Lyceums) in the Prefecture of Fthiotida in Greece, using the model of Data Envelopment Analysis and explore the factors that could interrelate with these measurements. The results provide evidence that a low percentage of school units (34.8%) achieves maximum technical efficiency. Proposals for improving the technical efficiency of the specific schools are also made.
Highlights
School efficiency is a major issue worldwide for several reasons
The focus in this paper is on the measurement of technical efficiency in the Senior High Schools in the Prefecture of Fthiotida in Central Greece, by using Data Envelopment Analysis
Analysis of technical efficiency in the specific region, which can be used as a pilot study, is valuable for officials and decision makers who are concerned with the effective use of scarce resources
Summary
School efficiency is a major issue worldwide for several reasons. In Greece, the efficiency ofHigh Schools has never been assessed. The Greek Government has been facing a huge economic and financial crisis since 2010, and, it is crucial to provide upper secondary education in a more effective manner that enables existing limited resources to meet the demand for it This is a major policy issue, considering the austerity of Greek Public Sector. Analysis of technical efficiency in the specific region, which can be used as a pilot study, is valuable for officials and decision makers who are concerned with the effective use of scarce resources. It has to be stressed, that no other investigation of this kind has ever been made in Greece. The research hypothesis is that Senior High Schools in Fthiotida are not technically efficient, since the centralized governmental funding does not consider criteria of school efficiency, and there is room for greater efficiency
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