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Improving school leadership in Rwanda

Author

Listed:
  • Lauterbach, Simeon
  • Crawfurd, Lee
  • Kirezi, Jocelyne C.
  • Nsabimana, Aimable
  • Peeraer, Jef

Abstract

Can effective school leadership enhance high-stakes test scores in low-income countries? To address this question, we examine the short-term impact of a school leadership professional development program that was implemented by VVOB across 525 primary schools in the six lowest-performing districts of Rwanda between 2018 and 2019. The program aimed to strengthen the leadership, management, and teacher support skills of school headteachers. We find that the program had small but statistically insignificant effects on Primary Leaving Examination scores within one to two years after the intervention. However, the program led to a five to six percentage point increase in teacher retention rates, with qualitative evidence suggesting that headteachers provided greater support to teachers, in particular during the onboarding process. Future research should focus on refining such programs and understanding which mechanisms are necessary to also improve learning outcomes of students.

Suggested Citation

  • Lauterbach, Simeon & Crawfurd, Lee & Kirezi, Jocelyne C. & Nsabimana, Aimable & Peeraer, Jef, 2025. "Improving school leadership in Rwanda," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:deveco:v:177:y:2025:i:c:s0304387825000963
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2025.103545
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    School leadership; Professional development; School management;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I22 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Educational Finance; Financial Aid
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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