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This paper analyzes how a primary school affiliation with a professional athlete affects pupils’ educational attainment on Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE). Taking an advantage of a data set of 2010 KCPE scores for 80 primary schools in the Eldoret district, the study statistically illustrates a strong positive correlation between professional athlete sponsorship and educational attainment of pupils on all subject portions of the KCPE exam, except Kiswahili. The evidence presented in this paper highlights the impact of the athlete sponsorship on quality of education in Kenya. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the extent to which teacher behaviour in classroom affects student achievement gains in mathematics in Ghana. A representative sample of primary schools from three districts of the Upper East Region of Ghana was selected (n = 73) using stage sampling procedure, and written tests in mathematics were administered to all grade six students at the beginning and end of school year 2013–2014. Two observation instruments and a student questionnaire were used in collecting data on quality of teaching. Multilevel analyses revealed that teacher factors are associated with student learning outcomes. Implications for promoting quality in education are drawn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although primary education in Brazil has achieved universal enrollment levels, the management of the educational system is decentralized with high heterogeneity at municipal level. The goal of this paper is to perform an efficiency analysis of the Brazilian elementary public schools. This study performs a thorough efficiency analysis of around 10,600 Brazilian elementary public schools, for the year 2017. The empirical assessment is conducted through Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) with double-bootstrap method. The model includes five inputs (teaching intensity, teaching quality, student-per-classroom ratio and two variables of prior achievement) and three outputs (progression rate and standardized scores on Math and Portuguese). Eleven different non-discretionary variables are employed to assess the determinants of the efficiency scores. The results show a relatively high average efficiency score (87 %), but also relevant disparities across the country's Regions. Eight out of the eleven non-discretionary variables are statistically correlated with efficiency scores, with an important role of indicators dealing with socioeconomic background (community and family). Importantly, potential attention must be posed about the apparent positive relationship between the efficiency of schools and the income inequalities in the cities where they operate. • This study performs a thorough efficiency analysis of around 10,600 Brazilian elementary public schools. • The results show a relatively high average efficiency score (87 %), but also relevant disparities across the country's Regions. • potential attention must be posed about the apparent positive relationship between the efficiency of schools and the income inequalities in the cities where they operate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is widespread agreement that schooling quality should be a priority in the post-2015 education agenda, but less agreement on how quality can be enhanced in a cost effective manner. In Uganda, classroom overcrowding is often considered a critical cause of poor learning outcomes. This paper investigates how various aspects of classroom composition, including class size and the achievement distribution of classmates, affect individual learning. Using test score data for over 250,000 children, such compositional factors are found to be relevant. However, their influence on learning is not so large as to justify major standalone policy interventions. Rather, pedagogical changes that support children with literacy difficulties merit particular consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the effect of education aid on primary enrolment and education quality. Using the most recent data on aid disbursements and econometric specifications inspired by the general aid effectiveness literature, we find some evidence that donors’ increase in funding has substantially contributed to the successful increase in enrolment over the last 15 years. The most robust effect is obtained by aid for education facilities and training. In addition, we find complementarities between aid for primary and secondary education. Our qualitative comparative analysis of education quality also highlights the relevance of a balanced mix of educational expenditures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]