Meritocracia y desigualdad de oportunidades. Análisis del rendimiento en el examen de acceso al Sistema de Educación Superior Ecuatoriano para el período 2018-2019.

Abstract

The objective of this research is to analyze the effect of the socioeconomic and demographic context, as well as the Human, Social and Cultural Capital variables on the performance of students aspiring to Ecuadorian Higher Education, as reflected in the grade obtained in the entrance exam "Ser Bachiller". To meet that objective, four Multiple Linear Regression models were built to estimate and isolate the effect of the groups of variables mentioned above, using data obtained from the surveys conducted to high school graduates at the national level by the National Institute of Educational Evaluation (INEVAL) for 2018 and 2019. The results suggest that a higher value of the socioeconomic stratification index positively affects performance. In turn, coming from the Coast, Amazon or Insular region, or self-identifying as Indigenous or Montubio, may decrease it. On the other hand, self-preparation and attending private pre-university schools proved to be the best methods of preparation for the exam. In conclusion, the higher education entrance exam does not represent an equal opportunity access mechanism for all, the results suggest that it is hardly fulfilling that objective, and that it could be a regressive policy in that respect