The Impact of Eliminating Secondary School Fees: Evidence from Tanzania
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The Impact of Eliminating Secondary School Fees: Evidence from Tanzania. / Brandt, Kasper Lasson; Mkenda, Beatrice K.
2020.Research output: Working paper › Research
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TY - UNPB
T1 - The Impact of Eliminating Secondary School Fees: Evidence from Tanzania
AU - Brandt, Kasper Lasson
AU - Mkenda, Beatrice K.
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - In January 2016, Tanzania implemented a fee-free secondary school reform. Using variation in district and cohort exposure to the reform, we employ a difference-in-differences strategy to estimate the short-term impacts of the reform. Despite a relatively small drop in user costs, the reform substantially increased enrolment into secondary education. While these enrolment effects were predominantly driven by an increasein public school enrolment, there was also a delayed positive effect on private school enrolment. Districts most exposed to the reform experienced a significant drop in exam scores relative to less-exposed districts, which cannot be explained by academic abilities of new students. These findings are in line with a theoretical school choice model, where fee elimination loosens enrolment constraints, and increased enrolment harms the quality of public education.
AB - In January 2016, Tanzania implemented a fee-free secondary school reform. Using variation in district and cohort exposure to the reform, we employ a difference-in-differences strategy to estimate the short-term impacts of the reform. Despite a relatively small drop in user costs, the reform substantially increased enrolment into secondary education. While these enrolment effects were predominantly driven by an increasein public school enrolment, there was also a delayed positive effect on private school enrolment. Districts most exposed to the reform experienced a significant drop in exam scores relative to less-exposed districts, which cannot be explained by academic abilities of new students. These findings are in line with a theoretical school choice model, where fee elimination loosens enrolment constraints, and increased enrolment harms the quality of public education.
M3 - Working paper
T3 - Publications of the Development Economic Research Group (DERG)
BT - The Impact of Eliminating Secondary School Fees: Evidence from Tanzania
ER -
ID: 254468410