Socio-Economic Factors Affecting the Participation of the Private Sector in the Development of Education in Iran from the Islamic Revolution to the Present (A Case Study of Sabzevar’s Educational System)

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the trend of private sector participation in the development of education in Iran from the Islamic Revolution to the present and to identify the socio-economic factors influencing it, using the educational system of Sabzevar as a case study. A mixed-methods approach was employed to examine the hypotheses, including: (1) survey method, (2) field method, and (3) documentary method. The data collection tools consisted of: (1) index cards, (2) a researcher-made questionnaire, (3) interviews, and (4) observations. The statistical population included all owners and shareholders of non-governmental schools in Sabzevar from the Islamic Revolution to the present. A total of 125 individuals were selected through cluster random sampling. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics derived from the sample population, employing appropriate statistical techniques and SPSS software. After processing, the information was presented in its final form. The findings of the research hypotheses indicated that private sector participation in the development of education in Iran from the Islamic Revolution to the present (a case study of Sabzevar’s educational system) has shown a growing trend. Furthermore, socio-economic factors have had a positive impact on this participation.