School fee abolition and changes in education indicators

Fee abolition is said to play a vital role in achieving Universal Primary Education, and in reducing education differentials by gender and wealth. I use DHS data to examine changes in the Net Attendance Ratio (NAR) and the Primary School Completion Rate (PSCR) in sub-Saharan African countries following fee elimination. In countries that abolish fees NARs generally increase more than do PSCRs. NAR differentials in gender and wealth often shrink, while in the same countries corresponding PSCR differentials remain unchanged, or increase. Changes may not coincide with fee abolition. Conflicting results are widely found. Reasons for differing results are discussed.