THE EMPTY OPPORTUNITY - LOCAL-CONTROL AND SECONDARY-SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

This paper uses a multi-level model to examine: (a) the extent of differences in grade 9 mathematics and science achievement and attitudes among students in 214 national government, private, and local schools in the Philippines, (b) differences among these types of schools in terms of their social composition, resource availability, orderly environment, academic emphasis and school decision-making, and (c) the possible causes of achievement difference. With student socioeconomic status, age and gender held constant, significant differences were observed among students attending the three types of schools. Students in local schools had lower achievement and less positive attitudes than those in national government or private schools; students in private schools had higher achievement. These differences were largely due to student selection effects.