81464 enGender Impact: The World Bank’s Gender Impact Evaluation Database Subsidy to Promote Girls' Secondary Education: The Female Stipend Program in Bangladesh Author(s) Shahidur Khandker, Mark Pitt and Nobuhiko Fuwa Contact skhandker@worldbank.org Country Bangladesh Organizing Theme Education and Skills Status Completed Intervention Category Cash Transfer Sector Education Secondary school enrollment rates in the developing countries are usually lower for girls than boys, especially in rural areas. In the mid 1990’s a female school stipend program was introduced to subsidize girls’ secondary education in rural Bangladesh. Although all of rural Bangladesh was eventually covered by this program, it was not introduced at the same time in all areas and to all class cohorts. This variation in timing is the source of parameter identification in the analysis. Using two different datasets and school/village-level fixed Abstract effects, we estimate the effects of this stipend program on school enrollments. The analysis based upon two cross-sectional household surveys covering a common set of villages finds that the female stipend program increased girls’ secondary education substantially, but had no discernible effect on the schooling of boys. The analysis performed with an annual panel of school-level data also finds a significant effect of the stipend program on girl’s enrollment and reduced the enrollment of boys in coeducational secondary schools. Gender Connection Gender Focused Intervention Gender Outcomes School enrollment IE Design Quasi experimental- Pipeline control The intervention was a nationwide program targeted to girls in grades 6 though 10 in 460 rural districts starting in 1994. The objectives of the program are to increase enrollment and completion rates for secondary school girls and raise the female age at marriage. The program introduced a uniform stipend and tuition subsidy program for each girl attending Intervention a secondary school in rural areas who attend at least 75% of school days, attain a minimum level of proficiency and remain unmarried. The stipend is also complemented with other components such as curriculum reforms, instructional materials, improvement in school infrastructure and awareness programs. Intervention Period The intervention started in 1994. Girls grade 6-10 received the stipend once a year. The study utilizes school enrollment data from 118 out of 460 districts. The study also Sample population utilizes a panel survey that is comprised of 2599 households and 889 schools from 87 villages. The program was slowly rolled out across Bangladesh. The study compares how the date in Comparison conditions which an individual received the program impacts schooling outcomes. Last updated: 14 August 2013 1 enGender Impact: The World Bank’s Gender Impact Evaluation Database Unit of analysis Household level and school level Evaluation Period 1991-1999 On average, an additional year of stipend program duration increases female student secondary enrollment by as much as 8 percent. The household level data suggest that an Results additional year of the program increases girl's aged 11-18 enrollment by 12 percentage points and has no impact on men. The impacts are larger on girls from families who own more land. There is no randomization, the program placement is endogenous and the pipeline delays Primary study limitations are short. Funding Source Khandker, S., Pitt, M., & Fuwa, N. (2003). Subsidy to promote girls' secondary education: Reference(s) the female stipend program in Bangladesh. Link to Studies http://gssp.newamerica.net/sites/gssp.newamerica.net/files/articles/Subsidy%20to% 20Promote%20Girls%20Secondary%20Education.pdf Microdata Last updated: 14 August 2013 2