Are low-cost private schools accessible and equitable? Examining the drivers of public versus private primary school attendance in rural and urban Nigeria

The private schooling market in sub-Saharan Africa is expanding, particularly within the “low-cost” private sector. However, evidence on its role in addressing inequalities in educational opportunities, especially for disadvantaged children, remains limited. This article introduces a methodology for classifying private schools by cost using household expenditure data. Leveraging the 2015 Nigeria Education Data Survey, I examine how socioeconomic, demographic, and spatial factors influence school choice. The findings reveal that socioeconomic factors—such as wealth, parental education, and residence (urban/rural, northern/southern Nigeria)—are the primary determinants of private school enrollment. Low-cost private schools fail to reach the poorest children, particularly in rural and northern areas, exacerbating inequality in educational access. In addition, private school enrollment is higher in regions with limited public school availability, supporting the school choice model of excess demand. The article concludes by recommending policies that prioritize the expansion and strengthening of public schools to ensure equitable access to quality education for all.