RISE Working Paper 19/028 - Learning Equity Requires More than Equality: Learning Goals and Achievement Gaps between the Rich and the Poor in Five Developing Countries

Uses the Annual Status of Education Report data from India and Pakistan and Uwezo data from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda

From:
Department for International Development
Published
27 February 2019
Country:
India, Kenya, Pakistan, Tanzania, Uganda
Document Type:
Working Paper
Theme:
Education
Authors:
Akmal, M., Pritchett, L

Abstract

Using the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) data from India and Pakistan, and Uwezo data from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda that test all children of given ages, whether in school or not, on simple measures of learning in math, reading (local language), and English, we quantify the role of achieving equality between the richest 20% and the poorest 40% in terms of grade attainment and learning achievement toward accomplishing the global equity goal of universal numeracy and literacy for all children.

First, excluding Kenya, equalizing grade attainment between children from rich and poor households would only close between 8% (India) and 25% (Pakistan) of the gap to universal numeracy, and between 8% (Uganda) and 28% (Pakistan) of the gap to universal literacy.

Second, children from the poorest 40% of households tend to have lower performance in literacy and numeracy at each grade. This shows that the “hidden exclusion” (WDR, 2018) of lower learning at the same grade levels is a substantial and often larger part of the equity gap compared to the more widely documented gaps in enrollment and grade attainment.

Third, even with complete equality in grade attainment and learning achievement, children from poor households would be far from the equity goal of universal numeracy and literacy. Achieving universal literacy and numeracy to accomplish even a minimal standard of global absolute equity will require more than just closing the rich-poor learning gap, it will take progress in learning for all.

This research is part of the Research on Improving Systems of Education programme

Citation

Akmal, M. and Pritchett, L. (2019). Learning Equity Requires More than Equality: Learning Goals and Achievement Gaps between the Rich and the Poor in Five Developing Countries. RISE Working Paper 19/028

Learning Equity Requires More than Equality: Learning Goals and Achievement Gaps between the Rich and the Poor in Five Developing Countries

Published 27 February 2019
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