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Inside private secondary schools in Malawi: Access or exclusion?

Author

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  • Zeitlyn, Benjamin
  • Lewin, Keith M.
  • Chimombo, Joseph
  • Meke, Elizabeth

Abstract

In Malawi, net enrolment rates at secondary level are less than 30%. Most children do not complete primary school; others are discouraged by the costs of secondary schooling. Most secondary school students go to government schools, but private schools enrol about 20%. These private schools include a range of prices and quality, but all are unaffordable for those outside the wealthiest quintile. This paper explores 15 lower price private secondary schools. It describes the students in the schools, their teachers, their infrastructure and their business model. We find that while private secondary schools provide access to secondary school for some children who cannot go to government schools, they do not provide sustainable quality secondary education that could be extended to children outside the top quintile of household wealth.

Suggested Citation

  • Zeitlyn, Benjamin & Lewin, Keith M. & Chimombo, Joseph & Meke, Elizabeth, 2015. "Inside private secondary schools in Malawi: Access or exclusion?," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 109-117.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:injoed:v:43:y:2015:i:c:p:109-117
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2015.05.008
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    1. repec:wbk:wbpubs:6389 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. repec:wbk:wbpubs:2612 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Sayed, Yusuf & Lewin, Keith M., 2005. "Non-Governmental Schooling in Sub-Saharan Africa. Exploring the Evidence in South Africa and Malawi," Education Research Papers 12828, Department for International Development (DFID) (UK).
    4. Paul Glewwe & Nauman Ilias & Michael Kremer, 2010. "Teacher Incentives," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 2(3), pages 205-227, July.
    5. Singh, Abhijeet, 2015. "Private school effects in urban and rural India: Panel estimates at primary and secondary school ages," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 16-32.
    6. Jacobus de Hoop, 2010. "Selective Secondary Education and School Participation in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from Malawi," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 10-041/2, Tinbergen Institute.
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    Cited by:

    1. Bennell, Paul, 2022. "Private schooling in sub-Saharan Africa: An egalitarian alternative?," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    2. Krafft, Caroline & Elbadawy, Asmaa & Sieverding, Maia, 2019. "Constrained school choice in Egypt," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).

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