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Article Title: Factors Influencing Households' Choice of School: Contributions and Limits of Private Schools in Achieving Universal Basic Education in Techiman Municipality, Ghana
by Sulemana Tahiru and Abdulai Abubakari

Abstract:
As many Ghanaians crave to provide quality basic education for their children, households are caught between the choice of sending their wards to either private or public basic schools. The objective of this study is to ascertain why households in the Techiman Municipality choose to enroll their children in private basic schools when free public basic schools are available. The study employed a cross-sectional survey and both qualitative andquantitative datawere collected through key informants� interviews, in-depth interviews and administered questionnaires to household heads and owners of private basic schools. The study found that household�s income, occupation and level of education have substantial influence on the choice of type of basic school. Private schools� performance at the Basic Education Certificate Examination also influences households� choices. The study however, found that, private schools face challenges such as high taxes, financial constraints, and frequent transfers of pupils, default in payment of school fees and inadequate teaching and learning materials. The paper concludes that, households with better incomes enroll their children in private schools than those with poor incomes. The paper recommends that public schools should improve their performance, while private schools reduce their charges to enable more poor households enroll their children.

Keywords: Private And Public Schools, Household Choice, Enrolment, Techiman Municipal Ghana Education Service

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