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The Gendered Impacts of COVID-19 on Adolescents’ School Attendance in Sub-Saharan Africa

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  • B Kis,Anna
  • Boxho,Claire Elise
  • Gaddis,Isis
  • Koussoube,Mousson Estelle Jamel
  • Rouanet,Lea Marie

Abstract

As the COVID-19 pandemic led to a historic and widespread shutdown of schools across theworld, including in Sub-Saharan Africa, there were general concerns that girls would be disproportionately affected.This study analyzes the effects of the pandemic on the school attendance of adolescent girls and boys in sixAfrican countries. The study uses individual-level data on children’s school attendance collected as part ofhigh-frequency phone surveys. Contrary to expectations, the study reveals that there is no evidence to suggest thatgender gaps widened during the pandemic. If anything, gender gaps appear to have narrowed in some countries. Furtherin-depth analysis shows that while being a descendent of the household head, having parents with at least primaryeducation, and above-median household wealth were associated with a higher probability of school attendance amongadolescents before the pandemic, these factors lost their salience in explaining school attendance in the aftermath ofthe pandemic. These results suggest that some traditionally protective forces were eroded during the COVID-19 crisis.

Suggested Citation

  • B Kis,Anna & Boxho,Claire Elise & Gaddis,Isis & Koussoube,Mousson Estelle Jamel & Rouanet,Lea Marie, 2023. "The Gendered Impacts of COVID-19 on Adolescents’ School Attendance in Sub-Saharan Africa," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10472, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:10472
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kaul, Tara, 2018. "Intra-household allocation of educational expenses: Gender discrimination and investing in the future," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 336-343.
    2. Maryam Akmal & Susannah Hares & Megan O’Donnell, 2020. "Gendered Impacts of COVID-19 School Closures: Insights from Frontline Organizations," Policy Papers 175a, Center for Global Development.
    3. Roby, Jini L. & Erickson, Lance & Nagaishi, Chanel, 2016. "Education for children in sub-Saharan Africa: Predictors impacting school attendance," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 110-116.
    4. Bundervoet, Tom & Dávalos, Maria E. & Garcia, Natalia, 2022. "The short-term impacts of COVID-19 on households in developing countries: An overview based on a harmonized dataset of high-frequency surveys," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    5. João Pedro & Amer Hasan & Diana Goldemberg & Koen Geven & Syedah Aroob Iqbal, 2021. "Simulating the Potential Impacts of COVID-19 School Closures on Schooling and Learning Outcomes: A Set of Global Estimates [Tackling Inequity in Education during and after COVID-19]," The World Bank Research Observer, World Bank, vol. 36(1), pages 1-40.
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