Evidence on Public School Outcomes in India: A Comprehensive Literature Review

This report was commissioned to address the ongoing discourse surrounding the effectiveness of public versus private schools in India. It systematically examines the intricacies of the Indian education system and the diverse factors that contribute to student learning outcomes. 

The key learnings are:

1. There is a significant shift in enrollment patterns, with a growing preference for private schools, particularly in urban areas and among families with higher socioeconomic status. 

2. The report challenges the prevailing assumption that private schools consistently outperform public schools. It emphasizes the need to consider a wide range of factors, including socioeconomic background, parental involvement, and school resources, when evaluating learning outcomes.

3. The study investigates the complex motivations behind parents' school choices, highlighting the influence of perceived quality, medium of instruction (English vs. vernacular languages), teacher qualifications, and the marketing strategies employed by private schools.

4. The review identifies critical gaps in existing research, particularly the need for more rigorous studies that isolate the impact of school type on learning outcomes while controlling for other confounding variables.