In this study we examine the relationship between school inputs -pupil-teacher ratio and expenditure
per pupil- and educational attainment in South Africa. Following a reduced form production
function we apply a partial generalized ordered probit which allows us to identify heterogeneous effects
of the controls at different levels of education. The government has increased its spending in
basic education mainly through an increase in government employed teachers in an effort to reduce
the pupil-teacher ratio, and through an increase in expenditure per pupil allocated by school quintile in
a bid to attain equality in resources at school. Controlling for individual, socio-economic and neighborhood
characteristics we find both pupil-teacher ratio and expenditure per pupil have strong and
significant effects on educational attainment of Africans in South Africa. These inputs have higher
effects on attainment of lower education levels.