Private Expenditure on Education and Its Impact on Learning (A Comparative Study Based on Tamil Medium Plantation and Urban Secondary Schools in the Ratnapura Education Zone)

Abstract

In the 21st century, with the rapid development of education, technological advancement, and social changes, private expenditure on education has reached a significant level. The increase in private expenditure on education has an impact on student enrollment, dropout rates, subject choice, learning persistence, the desire to continue higher education, and educational path planning. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of private expenditure on education on student learning in plantation area schools and urban schools. A sample of 116 students, 116 parents, 19 teachers, and 10 principals were selected from Tamil Moho Moola 1AB 1C and VuluPnu 2 schools under the Ratnapura Education Zone, and this study was conducted as a mixed-method study following a descriptive quantitative research design. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, and document analysis, and descriptive statistics were analyzed using the LuPlulu software. The data were interpreted. The results of the study reveal that the continuous increase in private spending has negative effects, such as a lack of learning support, a decline in learning engagement, low attendance, and poor student achievement. The study also highlights that as a result of the increase in private spending on education, the gap in educational development between urban and rural schools, learning inequality, teacher-parent expectations, and conflicts are emerging. Therefore, the results of the study emphasize the need for education policy, planning, school development plans, financial allocation, and ensuring equity-based educational opportunities.