EXPLORING EDUCATIONAL QUALITY IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR SCHOOLS: A CASE STUDY OF DISTRICT FAISALABAD

Abstract

Education plays a vital role in the personality development and overall growth of individuals. In Pakistan, education is imparted through various types of institutions, including public, private, technical, and religious (madrasa) systems. Among them, public and private schools form the core of the national education system. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the quality of education in public and private sector higher secondary schools in District Faisalabad. Using a multistage random sampling method, data was collected from 240 respondents—including administrators, teachers, and students—across three randomly selected tehsils. A structured interview schedule and a five-point Likert scale were employed to gather and quantify perceptions of educational quality. The analysis, utilizing both descriptive and inferential statistics, revealed that public schools generally had more qualified staff, better infrastructure, and more experienced faculty. Conversely, private schools lacked these resources and often depended on less qualified personnel. The study concludes with a recommendation that the government should take active steps to bridge the quality gap between public and private institutions to ensure equitable and effective educational standards.

Key Words:  Quality of Education, Teaching Methodologies,  Educational Attainment, Institutional Facilities, Public vs. Private Schools, Likert scale, District Faisalabad.