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Universal, but not free: Household schooling costs and equity effects of Uganda’s Universal Secondary Education policy

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  • Omoeva, Carina
  • Gale, Charles

Abstract

A general consensus regarding universal schooling policies is that they have boosted enrollments while ignoring the quality of learning, although there is burgeoning research interest in the extent to which such policies have contributed to more equitable educational delivery. This paper analyzes household and school level effects of Uganda’s Universal Secondary Education (USE) policy, launched in 2007. We rely on data drawn from the Uganda National Panel Survey (UNPS) rounds in 2005 and 2009–11, which are included as part of the World Bank’s Living Standards Measurement Study (LSMS). We find that receipt of the USE capitation grant has increased substantially for most pupils, and is associated with a 60% reduction in household spending on education per child, at the lower secondary level. At the same time this relationship does not differ by wealth or by region. Further, we do not find evidence to suggest the policy boosted school attendance or retention, at the lower secondary level. Overall, our findings suggest a need for greater attention to the equity effects of universal education policies.

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  • Omoeva, Carina & Gale, Charles, 2016. "Universal, but not free: Household schooling costs and equity effects of Uganda’s Universal Secondary Education policy," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 41-50.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:injoed:v:50:y:2016:i:c:p:41-50
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2016.05.007
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Akoyi, K.T. & Mitiku, F. & Maertens, M., 2018. "Is prohibiting child labour enough? Coffee certification and child schooling in Ethiopia and Uganda," 2018 Conference, July 28-August 2, 2018, Vancouver, British Columbia 275958, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    3. Datzberger, Simone, 2022. "Lost in transition? Modernization, formal education and violence in Karamoja," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    4. Idei, Rika & Kato, Hironori & Morikawa, So, 2020. "Contribution of rural roads improvement on children’s school attendance: Evidence in Cambodia," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    5. W. Nabiddo & B.L. Yawe & F. Wasswa, 2022. "Education attainment and household education expenditure in Uganda: An empirical investigation," Journal of Economic Policy and Management Issues, JEPMI, vol. 1(1), pages 21-49.
    6. Datzberger, Simone, 2022. "Education and empowerment: Voices from Ugandan youth," Working Papers 66, Austrian Foundation for Development Research (ÖFSE).
    7. Sophia Kan & Stephan Klasen, 2021. "Evaluating universal primary education in Uganda: School fee abolition and educational outcomes," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(1), pages 116-147, February.

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