What's the fair share? A systematic approach to assessing educational resource allocation in Henan, China

• Developed a framework balancing equity and efficiency in educational resource allocation. • Middle school education showed more instability and regional disparities than primary education. • Found a coupling effect between equity and efficiency in resource allocation processes. • Policy recommendations include promoting innovation and improving management for balanced allocation. Educational equity remains a critical concern for scholars worldwide. This study develops a systematic evaluation framework that balances equity and efficiency in educational resource allocation. Using data from compulsory education across cities in Henan Province from 2015 to 2021, and employing the Dagum Gini coefficient and Malmquist index models, we examine regional disparities, spatial patterns, and evolutionary trends in the allocation of compulsory education resources from both efficiency and equity perspectives. We analyze the current state, issues, and underlying causes of educational resource distribution and propose policy recommendations. Our results reveal significant variations in the capacity for educational resource allocation at both primary and middle school levels in Henan Province, with middle school education exhibiting greater instability and regional disparities. A coupling effect between equity and efficiency is observed in the allocation process. These findings suggest that the government should focus on adjusting the structure of middle school education resources by promoting technological innovation, enhancing management practices, and rationally allocating resources. Furthermore, effective resource allocation strategies and supervisory measures must be implemented based on regional changes in educational resource outputs. The method proposed in this study for assessing regional differences in educational resource allocation provides a valuable reference for achieving educational equity and sustainable development.