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Research ArticleArticle

Educator Incentives and Educational Triage in Rural Primary Schools

Daniel O. Gilligan, Naureen Karachiwalla, Ibrahim Kasirye, Adrienne M. Lucas and Derek Neal
Published online before print December 06, 2019, 1118-9871R2; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.57.1.1118-9871R2
Daniel O. Gilligan
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
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Naureen Karachiwalla
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
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Ibrahim Kasirye
Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC)
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Adrienne M. Lucas
University of Delaware, J-PAL, CGD, and NBER
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Derek Neal
University of Chicago and NBER
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Abstract

In low-income countries, primary school student achievement is often far below grade level and dropout rates remain high. Further, some educators actively encourage weaker students to drop out before reaching the end of primary school to avoid the negative attention that a school receives when its students perform poorly on their national primary leaving exams. We report the results of an experiment in rural Uganda that sought to both promote learning and reduce dropout rates. We offered bonus payments to grade six (P6) teachers that rewarded each teacher for the math performance of each of her students relative to comparable students in other schools. This Pay for Percentile (PFP) incentive scheme did not improve overall P6 math performance, but it did reduce dropout rates. PFP treatment raised attendance rates a full year after treatment ended from .56 to .60. In schools with math books, treatment increased these attendance rates from .57 to .64, and PFP also improved performance on test items covered by P6 books. PFP did not improve any measure of attendance, achievement, or attainment in schools without books.

KEYWORDS
  • Achievement
  • Dropout
  • Educational Triage
  • Incentives
  • Uganda
  • Complements in Education Production
  • Teaching at the Right Level
JEL classification codes
  • I0
  • J3
  • O1

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Journal of Human Resources: 60 (3)
Journal of Human Resources
Vol. 60, Issue 3
1 May 2025
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Educator Incentives and Educational Triage in Rural Primary Schools
Daniel O. Gilligan, Naureen Karachiwalla, Ibrahim Kasirye, Adrienne M. Lucas, Derek Neal
Journal of Human Resources Dec 2019, 1118-9871R2; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.57.1.1118-9871R2

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Educator Incentives and Educational Triage in Rural Primary Schools
Daniel O. Gilligan, Naureen Karachiwalla, Ibrahim Kasirye, Adrienne M. Lucas, Derek Neal
Journal of Human Resources Dec 2019, 1118-9871R2; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.57.1.1118-9871R2
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Keywords

  • achievement
  • Dropout
  • Educational Triage
  • incentives
  • Uganda
  • Complements in Education Production
  • Teaching at the Right Level
  • I0
  • J3
  • O1
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