Publication: Enrollment without Learning: Teacher Effort, Knowledge, and Skill in Primary Schools in Africa
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471 downloads
Published
2017-11
ISSN
0895-3309
Date
2017-12-20
Author(s)
Bold, Tessa
Martin, Gayle
Stacy, Brian
Rockmore, Christophe
Svennson, Jakob
Wane, Waly
Editor(s)
Abstract
School enrollment has universally increased over the last 25 years in low-income countries. Enrolling in school, however, does not assure that children learn. A large share of children in low-income countries complete their primary education lacking even basic reading, writing, and arithmetic skills. Teacher quality is a key determinant of student learning, but not much is known about teacher quality in low-income countries. This paper discusses an ongoing research program intended to help fill this void. We use data collected through direct observations, unannounced visits, and tests from primary schools in seven sub-Saharan African countries to answer three questions: How much do teachers teach? What do teachers know? How well do teachers teach?
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