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Primary Schooling, Student Learning, and School Quality in Rural Bangladesh-Working Paper 349

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  • Mohammad Niaz Asadullah, Nazmul Chaudhury

Abstract

Using a primary school curricular standard basic mathematics competence test, this paper documents the low level of student achievement amongst 10-18 year old rural children in Bangladesh and tests the extent to which years spent in school increases learning. Our sample includes children currently enrolled in school as well as those out of school. About half of the children failed to pass the written competence test, a finding that also holds for those completing primary schooling. Even after holding constant a wide range of factors such as household income, parental characteristics, current enrollment status, and a direct measure of child ability, there remains a statistically significant correlation between schooling attained and basic mathematics competence above and beyond primary school completion. This pattern is more pronounced for girls who have lower competence compared to boys despite higher grade completion. We further show that the schooling-learning gradient and the gender gap therein are not explained by common differences in family background. Aggregate institutional indicators of school quality matters for overall learning outcomes, however, does not mitigate against the gender gap. These findings have wide implications for anti-poverty policies that emphasize on quantitative expansion of education in developing countries, without concurrent improvements in learning.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohammad Niaz Asadullah, Nazmul Chaudhury, 2013. "Primary Schooling, Student Learning, and School Quality in Rural Bangladesh-Working Paper 349," Working Papers 349, Center for Global Development.
  • Handle: RePEc:cgd:wpaper:349
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. M. Niaz Asadullah, 2016. "The Effect Of Islamic Secondary School Attendance On Academic Achievement," The Singapore Economic Review (SER), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 61(04), pages 1-24, September.
    2. Lant Pritchett, 2014. "The Risks to Education Systems from Design Mismatch and Global Isomorphism," CID Working Papers 277, Center for International Development at Harvard University.
    3. Pritchett, Lant & Sandefur, Justin, 2020. "Girls’ schooling and women’s literacy: schooling targets alone won’t reach learning goals," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    4. Social Policy and Population Section, Social Development Division, ESCAP., 2014. "Asia-Pacific Population Journal Volume 29, No. 2," Asia-Pacific Population Journal, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), vol. 29(2), pages 1-82, November.
    5. Pritchett, Lant, 2014. "The risks to education systems from design mismatch and global isomorphism: Concepts, with examples from India," WIDER Working Paper Series 039, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    6. Asadullah, M. Niaz & Savoia, Antonio & Mahmud, Wahiduddin, 2014. "Paths to Development: Is there a Bangladesh Surprise?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 138-154.
    7. Kaffenberger, Michelle & Pritchett, Lant, 2020. "Aiming higher: Learning profiles and gender equality in 10 low- and middle-income countries," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    8. Lant Pritchett, 2014. "The Risks to Education Systems from Design Mismatch and Global Isomorphism: Concepts, with Examples from India," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2014-039, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    9. Yasuyuki Sawada & Minhaj Mahmud & Mai Seki & An Le & Hikaru Kawarazaki, 2019. "Fighting the Learning Crisis in Developing Countries: A Randomized Experiment of Self-Learning at the Right Level," CIRJE F-Series CIRJE-F-1127, CIRJE, Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cognitive ability; gender inequality; school quality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • Z12 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Religion
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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