In the last decade, fee paying private schools have mushroomed in rural areas across the country. There is a wider notion that these private schools provide better schooling to children as compared to government schools. A true evaluation of the impact of private schooling is possible only if the socio-economic background of the child can be controlled. No detailed research of this nature has been carried out in India till now. The Andhra Pradesh School Choice (APSC) Study, done by Azim Premji Foundation, was designed to assess and compare effects on learning across government and private schools on children with similar socio-economic backgrounds. The Study points out that contrary to general perception, private schools are not able to add any significant value in terms of the learning achievement of children, when compared to government schools in rural areas. The conclusions of this five-year study establish that once variations in socio-economic background are accounted for there is no difference in learning outcomes across government and private schools in rural areas. The Andhra Pradesh School Choice (APSC) Study is a longitudinal research carried out carried out by the Azim Premji Foundation team over a 5-year period in five districts of Andhra Pradesh -- Vishakhapatnam, East Godavari, Nizamabad, Medak and Kadapa. Azim Premji foundation conducts study to test if private schools are really better than public schools if compared on a fair rather than equal basis. The results will surprise you.
