Investigating the determinants of private school choice: A fuzzy-AHP analysis

School choice is a domain of incessant and contentious debate in today's era of neo-liberalism wherein the mushrooming of private schools in the educational marketplace is widespread. The present study aims at exploring and prioritising the key determinants of private school choice in the Indian Punjab context. The study finds that despite private schools exert heavy financial burden on the households, many of the parents are 'pulled' to choose such institutions for their offspring, although education in government schools is free, underscoring segregation patterns in school choice. Furthermore, the study finds that the most influential criteria shaping the households decision to choose the private schools for their offspring is 'parent-specific factors' followed by 'systemic factors' and 'teaching-related factors'. Moreover, the 'parental aspiration for child's future' constitutes the most prioritised sub-factor, followed by the 'lack of trust in government schools', 'perception of quality education in private schools' and 'English medium education'.