Increasing Access by Waiving Tuition: Evidence from Haiti
Summary — This paper evaluates the impact of a tuition waiver program in Haiti, which provided public financing to non-public schools conditional on not charging tuition. The study finds that participating schools experienced increased enrollment, more staff, reduced grade repetition, and a lower percentage of over-age students. The program demonstrates strong demand for education from families and a corresponding supply response from the non-public sector.
Key Findings
- The tuition waiver program increased enrollment in participating schools.
- Participating schools experienced an increase in staff.
- The program led to a reduction in grade repetition.
- The program reduced the share of over-age students.
- Student-teacher ratios increased in participating schools, but remained below the program limit.
Full Description
This paper examines the impact of Haiti's tuition waiver program (TWP), which provides public funding to non-public schools on the condition that they do not charge tuition fees. The program was initiated in 2007 to address financial barriers to education access in a country where the majority of schools are non-public. The study uses data from the 2002-2003 and 2011-2012 school censuses to estimate the program's effects on school enrollments, student-teacher ratios, grade advancement, and other school-level indicators. The findings suggest that the TWP has led to increased enrollment, more staff, and slightly higher student-teacher ratios in participating schools. Additionally, the program has contributed to reducing grade repetition and the proportion of over-age students.