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Impacts of violent extremism on educational content

Author

Listed:
  • Congdon Fors, Heather

    (Department of Economics, School of Business, Economics and Law, Göteborg University)

  • Isaksson, Ann-Sofie

    (The Institute for Futures Studies)

  • Lindskog, Annika

    (Department of Economics, School of Business, Economics and Law, Göteborg University)

  • Sepahvand, Mohammad

    (Lund University)

Abstract

This paper examines whether and how Islamist violence affects educational content in secondary schools in Burkina Faso. We combine geocoded conflict-event data with nationwide school census data containing detailed information on teachers’ subject-specific teaching hours and mobility across schools. Using a staggered difference-in-differences design, we estimate the dynamic effects of violence on school availability and instructional time. We find no change in total hours of core subjects following local conflict, but evidence of increased Arabic instruction. We also document effects on teacher retention. Following local episodes of Islamist violence, teachers become more likely to move to schools in other municipalities, with the strongest mobility responses observed among those teaching French and mathematics. These findings suggest that violent extremism can reshape educational content even without formal curriculum reform, through changes in school availability, the allocation of instructional time, and the composition of the teaching workforce.

Suggested Citation

  • Congdon Fors, Heather & Isaksson, Ann-Sofie & Lindskog, Annika & Sepahvand, Mohammad, 2026. "Impacts of violent extremism on educational content," Working Papers in Economics 862, University of Gothenburg, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:gunwpe:0862
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions
    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O55 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa

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