Investigating school quality and learning outcomes among adolescents in Malawi

Education, particularly at the primary level, has long been regarded as an essential input of social and economic development. In addition to its role in increasing the cognitive abilities of students, schooling is recognized as a facilitator of labor force participation, female empowerment, improved health outcomes, and greater civic engagement. As one of the early pioneers in sub-Saharan Africa of free primary education, Malawi’s enrollment figures compare favorably with those of its neighbors in southern Africa. However, as noted in Promoting Healthy, Safe, and Productive Transitions to Adulthood Brief No. 34, primary school completion rates stand at just 35 percent, while attainment of basic literacy and numeracy skills remains among the lowest in the region. The Population Council’s Plotting a Safe, Healthy, and Productive Path to Adulthood study seeks to formally investigate primary school quality and the schooling experiences of adolescents in two rural districts of Malawi. In particular, it explores the effect of school quality on educational outcomes. The study also assesses the role of educational experience on other transitions to adulthood