30 Nov School Enrolment Decision Making
“In addition to pursuing a range of supply-side improvements in education, policymakers and others working in the sector must also examine important demand-related issues. It does not cost much to look beyond the school walls…”
The School Enrolment Decision-Making project explored the household and community dynamics of school enrolment in the context of the Afghan government’s post-2001 efforts to extend education to as many children as possible. It encompasses four 2005 AREU case studies that examine the issue in a mix of urban and rural locations across three provinces.
The studies found that while supply-side issues such as the availability or quality of schools are important, they are frequently outweighed by considerations on the demand-side. In many cases, resource allocation, gender dynamics and levels of perceived ownership in the education process are the most important issues determining which households end up enrolling which children, and for how long.