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Contracting out schools at scale: evidence from Pakistan

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posted on 2023-06-09, 09:14 authored by Lee Crawfurd
Can governments contract out the management of schools to private operators at scale? This paper estimates the effect of a school reform in Punjab, Pakistan, in which 4,276 poorly performing public primary schools (around 10 percent of the total) were contracted out to private operators in a single school year. These schools remain free to students and the private operator receives a per-student subsidy equivalent to less than half of spending in government schools. Using a difference-in-difference framework we estimate that enrolment in converted schools increased by over 60 percent. Converted schools see a slight decline in overall average test scores, but this may be a composition effect rather than a treatment effect. Schools with the same number or fewer students as in the previous year saw no change in average test scores.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

RISE Working Paper Series

Publisher

RISE Research on Improving Systems of Education

Department affiliated with

  • Economics Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2018-12-10

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2018-12-10

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2018-12-10

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