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The school day in South Africa

Author

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  • Martin Wittenberg

    (School of Economics, University of Cape Town)

Abstract

We investigate the time allocation decisions by South African learners using the South African Time Use Survey. We show that punctuality appears to be a problem with around 20% of all learners seeming to arrive late. Punctuality and absenteeism seem to be problems disproportionately among poor learners. Overall time devoted to schooling and homework does not show a consistent income gradient. Poor learners, however, spend considerable time each day on chores. The distribution of this additional work falls disproportionately on girls. Some of the findings can be easily explained in terms of a simple human capital production framework, but some of the social constraints seem to require a broader framework in which choices by some individuals create externalities for others.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Wittenberg, 2005. "The school day in South Africa," SALDRU/CSSR Working Papers 113, Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town.
    • Handle: RePEc:ldr:cssrwp:113
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    File URL: https://www.opensaldru.uct.ac.za/handle/11090/658
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Anne Case & Angus Deaton, 1999. "School Inputs and Educational Outcomes in South Africa," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 114(3), pages 1047-1084.
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    Cited by:

    1. Stephen Porter, 2005. "Enhancing rural road policy: the case for the incorporation of the capabilities approach into rural road appraisal in Africa," SALDRU/CSSR Working Papers 115, Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town.
    2. David Lam & Murray Leibbrandt & Vimal Ranchhod, 2005. "Labour force withdrawal of the elderly in South Africa," SALDRU/CSSR Working Papers 118, Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town.
    3. Martin Wittenberg, 2005. "Testing for a common latent variable in a linear regression: Or how to "fix" a bad variable by adding multiple proxies for it," SALDRU/CSSR Working Papers 132, Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town.
    4. Anne Case & Alicia Menendez & Cally Ardington, 2005. "Health Seeking Behavior in Northern KwaZulu-Natal," Working Papers 165, Princeton University, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Research Program in Development Studies..
    5. Alex Sienaert, 2008. "Some Child Cost Estimates for South Africa," CSAE Working Paper Series 2008-15, Centre for the Study of African Economies, University of Oxford.
    6. Szalontai, Gabor, 2006. "The demand for sleep: A South African study," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 23(5), pages 854-874, September.
    7. Alex Sienaert, 2008. "Some Child Cost Estimates for South Africa," Economics Series Working Papers WPS/2008-15, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.

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