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Promoting priorities: Explaining the adoption of compulsory schooling laws in Africa

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  • Carr, Olivia G.

Abstract

This paper employs an event history analysis to examine the diffusion of compulsory schooling laws (CSLs) that require at least seven years of schooling throughout Africa. The current theory on CSL diffusion has been developed almost exclusively by studying patterns of adoption in the Western world. This paper tests reasons for diffusion that are prominent in this Western literature and adds additional predictors that are likely to better represent educational governance in Africa. The main finding from this paper is that adoption of seven-year CSLs in Africa can be predicted primarily through common linguistic and historical ties between countries, rather than through other variables that are theorized to be important from prior literature.

Suggested Citation

  • Carr, Olivia G., 2022. "Promoting priorities: Explaining the adoption of compulsory schooling laws in Africa," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:injoed:v:88:y:2022:i:c:s0738059321001760
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2021.102523
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