Factors influencing the choice of schools

Abstract

School choice is a daunting task for caregivers who have to consider which school will optimally support their child's early social, emotional and cognitive development. Alastair van Heerden and colleagues surveyed a sample of households in rural and peri-urban KwaZulu-Natal to better understand the factors that parents in such communities consider when making this critical decision.

Researchers at the HSRC and New York University (NYU) conducted a short-term study of 1 961 children (7-10 year olds) and their families to better understand the factors parents consider when deciding on schools for their children. The study took into account the fact that for many living in low-resource settings, their preferred choice and the realistically practical choice could be very different.