The Short-Term Effects Of Fee-Free Secondary Education Policy on Students’ Access, Sorting and Achievement: Evidence from Tanzania

Abstract

Improving access to education is an important driver of economic development in sub-Saharan Africa. In this paper I examine the short-term impact of fee-free secondary education policy in Tanzania on the access, sorting and achievement of lower secondary school students. Exploiting the pre-policy variation in dropout rates between districts, I find that the initiative significantly expanded access to secondary education, induced sorting to private schools and reduced the supply of private schools. I argue that the policy was welfare improving since it advanced educational access with negligible negative impact on students’ achievements.