Teacher shocks and student learning : evidence from Zambia / Jishnu Das ... [and others].

Format:

Book

Government document

Contributor:

World Bank.

Das, Jishnu

Series:

Policy research working papers ; 3602.

World Bank e-Library.

Policy research working paper ; 3602

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Absenteeism (Labor)--Zambia.

Absenteeism (Labor).

Academic achievement--Zambia.

Academic achievement.

Teachers--Zambia.

Teachers.

Other Title:

Policy research working paper vol. 3602

Place of Publication:

[Washington, D.C. : World Bank, 2005]

System Details:

data file

Summary:

"A large literature examines the link between shocks to households and the educational attainment of children. The authors use new data to estimate the impact of shocks to teachers on student learning in mathematics and English. Using absenteeism in the 30 days preceding the survey as a measure of these shocks they find large impacts: A 5 percent increase in the teacher's absence rate reduces learning by 4 to 8 percent of average gains over the year. This reduction in learning achievement likely reflects both the direct effect of increased absenteeism and the indirect effects of less lesson preparation and lower teaching quality when in class. The authors document that health problems-primarily teachers' own illness and the illnesses of their family members-account for more than 60 percent of teacher absences; not surprising in a country struggling with an HIV/AIDS epidemic. The relationship between shocks to teachers and student learning suggests that households are unable to substitute adequately for teaching inputs. Excess teaching capacity that allows for the greater use of substitute teachers could lead to larger gains in student learning. "--World Bank web site.

Notes:

Title from PDF file as viewed on 5/13/2005.

Includes bibliographical references.

Publisher Number:

10.1596/1813-9450-3602