Assessing Productivity Performance of Basic and Secondary Education in Tunisia: A Malmquist Analysis

Abstract

This study analyzes the productivity changes in basic and secondary
education for 24 governorates in Tunisia over the period 2004-2008. In
methodological term, the Malmquist index is employed, to estimate changes
in total factor productivity (TFP) which can be decomposed into two main
components namely, technological change and technical efficiency change.
Four input variables (number of teacher per students, number of classes per
students, number of schools per inhabitants, and expenditure in education
per student) are used and two output variables measuring success rate of
baccalaureate exam and rate of non-doubling in the 9th year. Results show
that on average, changes in TFP growth during the period 2004-2008 has
been more linked to the changes in technology. The managerial efficiency
does not have an important effect on the variation of TFP change. Generally,
productivity is associated with technological innovations.