Measurement and Determinants of Technical Efficiency of Higher Secondary Stage of Education in India: A State-Level Study using Data Envelopment Approach

Abstract

This paper contributes to the existing literature by estimating technical efficiency of Indian higher secondary stage of education (IHSE) exploring state-level data and by constructing two separate frontiers for two groups: (i) General Category States (GCS); and (ii) Special Category States (SCS)&Union Territories (UT),using non-parametric Data Envelopment Approach (DEA) under variable returns to scale for the period 2010-11 to 2015-16 and finding out the determinants of technical-efficiency separately for each of these two groups. The division of these two groups of the Indian states can be supported by the observed heterogeneity and differences in existing fiscal and economic conditions among GCS and SCS & UT. The paper uses output oriented approach for measuring technical efficiency (OUTTE).The findings reveal, that some of the GCS and SCS & UT are technically inefficient for some of the sample years for IHSE and hence it is possible to increase GCS/ SCS &UT output of H.S. level, given the existing input. The OUTTE differs within and between each group. A second stage regression analysis suggests, OUTTE is favourably impacted (a) for GCS by(i)ratio of government education expenditures to aggregate government expenditure for the state,(ii) proportion of girls enrolment to boys at higher secondary (H.S.) level,(iii) proportion of para teachers at H.S. level and (b) for SCS &UT, by(i) percentage of Scheduled Tribe enrolment, (ii) percentage of Scheduled Caste enrolment,(iii) Proportion of Female to Male Teachers. On the other hand OUTTE is adversely impacted (a) for GCS, by (i) percentage of H.S. schools without building, (ii) percentage of H.S. schools without girls’ toilet and (b) for SCS & UT, by proportion of single classroom school. Additionally, non-linear relation is found between OUTTE and government education expenditures for SCS & UT.