Church, state or independent? : factors that influence nine parents' school preference

Abstract

At a glance, the concept of school choice seems to be universal, a right enjoyed by everyone, but upon further reflection, several factors present themselves as potential stumbling blocks to prevent or even inhibit an individual’s right to choose. Such potential choices can be seen in the Maltese educational system. This manifests itself in 3 main forms: State-led schools, Church schools and Independent private schools. The purpose of this study is to examine the aspects that nine parents took into account and describe how these factors, taken together, helped them make decisions about their children's schools. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine parents in order to gain insight on the decision-making process, where parents weighed up several factors in order to evaluate and single-out potential choices. These interviews revealed that parents, through the use of various means of communication, namely social media and word of mouth, were able to become aware of the different schools offered by each sector. Although school choice is individualistic in nature, it was discovered that parents were quick to point out the financial contribution needed in order to attend school, regardless of sector as well as put emphasis on the accessibility of each school as main features that frame school choice. This was followed by other factors namely educational quality, proximity, the perception of classroom size as well as further educational opportunities offered or gained though attendance. The analysis of the lived experienced of parents, helped to expose the factors on which ultimately hinged choice.