Education policy in India is a complex and evolving field, shaped by multiple stakeholders—policymakers, scholars, bureaucrats, and educators. However, the voices of families, who are the primary decision-makers when it comes to choosing schools for their children, are often overlooked. Understanding what parents prioritize when selecting a school is critical to designing education policies that are responsive to actual needs rather than top-down prescriptions.

The survey was administered across India, covering 4,957 respondents. Data were weighted against the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) to produce national estimates that reflect the demographic and socio-economic diversity of India.

Over 50% of respondents, across socio-economic groups, ranked ‘regular teacher attendance’ as the top priority when selecting a school for their children, underscoring growing concerns regarding teacher absenteeism. ‘Proper infrastructure’ was ranked the second most important factor, chosen by 25% of all respondents.

While these remain key priorities, we observed certain differences across economic groups:

• Wealthier respondents owning 4 wheelers value instruction in English far more than those who own 2 wheelers (14%) and those who do not own any vehicle (9%).
• The poorest respondents (those without a vehicle) prioritise proper infrastructure more, with nearly 30% considering it a key determinant.