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The effect of ICT on schools’ efficiency: Empirical evidence on 23 European countries

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  • Mergoni, Anna
  • Soncin, Mara
  • Agasisti, Tommaso

Abstract

In the last two decades, ICT use in schools grew exponentially. In this paper, the relationship between ICT and school’s efficiency and the mechanisms through which ICT can enhance schools’ productivity are investigated, using PISA 2018 data for about 5400 schools. Empirically, we analyze school’s efficiency in producing ICT-mediated instructional time as well as final educational output, by implementing a network Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model. The analysis is complemented by a conditional DEA to account for the presence of possible external drivers of schools’ efficiency. Results show that the average schools’ efficiency in using ICT is relatively low, and that it is mainly driven by the ability of translating ICT-mediated instructional time into learning, rather than by the amount of ICT and human resources. This evidence is consistent across countries. By investigating the role of ICT in schools’ efficiency the paper provides insights to guide the transition of digital technology into learning.

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  • Mergoni, Anna & Soncin, Mara & Agasisti, Tommaso, 2023. "The effect of ICT on schools’ efficiency: Empirical evidence on 23 European countries," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jomega:v:119:y:2023:i:c:s0305048323000555
    DOI: 10.1016/j.omega.2023.102891
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    2. Wen, Yao & An, Qingxian & Gong, Yeming & Wu, Pengkun, 2024. "Structural rearrangement of the network system from an efficiency perspective: A silver lining of profit improvement," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 316(3), pages 1001-1011.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Schools’ Efficiency; ICT; Data envelopment analysis;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I29 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Other

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