Academic achievement in private and public schools: Management makes the difference

Abstract

This paper presents a report 011 a survey done to compare the academic performance of pupils in public and private junior secondary schools in Ghana. Data for the study were collected from a random sample of 800 pupils, 60 teachers, and 20 headteachers selected from 20 schools in the Accra and Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan areas. The results indicate that pupils in the private schools did far better than those in the public schools. The difference is attributed to the fact that the pupils in the private schools come predominantly from middleclass homes where parents set high academic standards for their children. The more important explanation is that the private schools are better equipped, better managed, and more supported by parents.