Factors Affecting School Choice: Observations from Nakhon Ratchasima Municipality
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Abstract
The purpose of this research was to study the factors influencing decision making for children to study in schools. A survey was distributed to school board members, principals, teachers, parents, and students (N= 364). Data were analysed by means of frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and multiple regression analysis. The study indicated building and environment, teachers, reputation of the school, tuition fees, and relationships with the community influenced the decision of parents to send theirchildren to a particular school, at a statistical significance level at or above .05. The most influential factor was building and environment. Teachers, school reputation, tuition fees were next in importance, and finally the relationships with the community. The correlated coefficient between these factors and the decision to send their children to a school was .92. These factors could explain 84.0% of the variance in deciding to send their children to a particular school.
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