Journal of Educational Management Research
Vol. 5 No. 2 (2026)

Factors Influencing Parents’ Decisions in Choosing Early Childhood and Primary Education Institutions

Manalu, Melva Herlina Sarma Uli (Unknown)
Suryaputra, Ronald (Unknown)
Handarini, Dany M. (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
10 Feb 2026

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the influence of curriculum, facilities, location, and brand image on parents’ decisions to enroll their children at an integrated early childhood and primary education institution. Employing a quantitative approach with a survey design, data were collected from 55 parents of students in the 2025/2026 academic year selected from a population of 77 respondents. The data were obtained using a Likert-scale questionnaire and analyzed through Structural Equation Modeling–Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) to examine the relationships among variables. The results reveal that curriculum has a positive and significant effect on parents’ school choice decisions, indicating that curriculum relevance, quality, and future orientation play a crucial role in shaping parental preferences. In contrast, school facilities and location do not show a significant influence, suggesting that these factors are perceived as basic requirements rather than key differentiators in the school selection process. Furthermore, brand image has a positive and significant effect and emerges as the most dominant factor influencing parents’ decisions, as a strong school image fosters trust, reflects perceived educational quality, and enhances parental confidence. These findings imply that for newly established schools, the development of a strong and relevant curriculum supported by effective brand image management is essential to influence parents’ enrollment decisions, while facilities and location function primarily as supporting factors rather than main determinants.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

jemr

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Education Social Sciences

Description

Journal of Educational Management Research is an international peer-reviewed journal which publishes original and significant contributions to educational management, administration, and leadership, in its broadest sense, from all over the world. This includes primary research projects in schools ...