Targeting Girls’ Education: Effects of Gender Targeting on Enrollment, Retention, and Learning in Rural Rajasthan

Clara Delavallade, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
Alan Griffith, University of Michigan
Gaurav Shukla, Educate Girls
Rebecca L. Thornton, University of Michigan

Utilizing a randomized experiment in rural Rajasthan, India, we evaluate the effectiveness of an education program aimed to increase girls’ retention, enrollment and learning. While enrollment and community sensitization were specifically aimed at promoting girls education, the learning component of the program involved and targeted boys and girls equally. Approximately 230 primary schools were randomly assigned to the program or to a control and we evaluate the effect after two years of program implementation. We find moderate gains in retention and enrollment after one year of the program, primarily among girls who are most likely to be disadvantaged. After the completion of the second year of the program, we find large gains in learning in Hindi, English, and Math, equivalent to approximately one additional year of schooling with no significant difference in learning across gender.