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An Assessment of the Impacts of Sri Lanka's Programme for School Improvement and School Report Card Programme on Students' Academic Progress

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  • Harsha Aturupane
  • Paul Glewwe
  • Renato Ravina
  • Upul Sonnadara
  • Suzanne Wisniewski

Abstract

This paper examines two education programmes in Sri Lanka: the Programme for School Improvement (PSI), which decentralises decision-making power, and the School Report Card Programme (SRCP), which was designed to provide parents and other community members with information on the characteristics and performance of their local schools. Using a difference in differences identification strategy, it finds the following results. First, the PSI programme significantly increased Math and English reading test scores among Grade 4 students, but not first language (Sinhalese or Tamil) test scores. However, PSI has had no effect on any test scores of Grade 8 students. In contrast, the SRCP had no significant impacts on any test scores in either grade, and further inquiries revealed that the SRCP was never really implemented. Second, the paper examined the impact of both programmes on teacher and school principal variables. Overall, few effects were found, and in some cases effects were found that one would associate with reduced school quality. On a more positive note, the PSI programme does appear to have led schools to form School Development Committees (SDCs), as the programme stipulates, to establish a list of school priorities and to implement projects funded through local fundraising.

Suggested Citation

  • Harsha Aturupane & Paul Glewwe & Renato Ravina & Upul Sonnadara & Suzanne Wisniewski, 2014. "An Assessment of the Impacts of Sri Lanka's Programme for School Improvement and School Report Card Programme on Students' Academic Progress," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(12), pages 1647-1669, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jdevst:v:50:y:2014:i:12:p:1647-1669
    DOI: 10.1080/00220388.2014.936396
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    1. World Bank, 2011. "World Bank for Results 2011," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 15792, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Raju,Dhushyanth, 2016. "Public school teacher management in Sri Lanka: issues and options," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7651, The World Bank.
    2. Himaz, Rozana & Aturupane, Harsha, 2021. "Why are boys falling behind? Explaining gender gaps in school attainment in Sri Lanka," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).

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