Improving education outcomes in South Asia: findings from a decade of impact evaluations

Salman Asim, Robert S. Chase, Amit Dar and Achim Schmillen

No 7362, Policy Research Working Paper Series from The World Bank

Abstract: There have been many initiatives to improve education outcomes in South Asia. Still, outcomes remain stubbornly resistant to improvements, at least when considered across the region. To collect and synthesize the insights about what actually works to improve learning and other education outcomes, this paper conducts a systematic review and meta-analysis of 29 education-focused impact evaluations from South Asia, establishing a standard that includes randomized control trials and quasi-experimental designs. It finds that while there are impacts from interventions that seek to increase the demand for education in households and communities, those targeting teachers or schools and thus the supply-side of the education sector are generally much more adept at improving learning outcomes. In addition, interventions that provide different actors with resources and those that incentivize behavioral changes show moderate but statistically significant impacts on student learning. A mix of input- and incentive-oriented interventions tailored to the specific conditions on the ground appears most promising for fostering education outcomes in South Asia.

Keywords: Education For All; Tertiary Education; Effective Schools and Teachers; Access&Equity in Basic Education; Primary Education (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015-07-13
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dev and nep-edu
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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