« Back to Resources

Fighting Corruption to Improve Schooling: Evidence from a Newspaper Campaign in Uganda

What are the most effective ways to increase primary school enrollment and student learning? We argue that innovations in governance of social services may yield the highest return since social service delivery in developing countries is often plagued by inefficiencies and corruption. We illustrate this by using data from an unusual policy experiment. A newspaper campaign in Uganda aimed at reducing capture of public funds by providing schools (parents) with information to monitor local officials’ handling of a large education grant program. The campaign was highly successful and the reduction in capture had a positive effect on enrollment and student learning.

Download
Share:      
Uploaded on: Nov 30, 2015
Last Updated: Dec 04, 2015
Year Published: 2005


Resource Tags

Resource Type: Impact Evidence Issues: Community Organizing, Education, Governance, Accountability & Transparency, Policy Advocacy Tool Type: Reports / Research Method: Improving Governance, Accountability and Transparency Languages: English Regions: Sub-Saharan Africa Nature of Impact: Change in institutional / government practice, Citizen Action & Participation, Impact on Education, Legal Knowledge and Skills Institutions Engaged: Media, NGOs, Service Delivery Agencies