Fighting the Learning Crisis in Developing Countries: A Randomized Experiment of Self-Learning at the Right Level

61 Pages Posted: 10 Nov 2019 Last revised: 8 Aug 2022

See all articles by Yasuyuki Sawada

Yasuyuki Sawada

University of Tokyo; Asian Development Bank - Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department (ERCD)

Minhaj Mahmud

Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS)

Mai Seki

Ritsumeikan University

Hikaru Kawarazaki

University College London - Department of Economics; Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS)

Date Written: June 13, 2022

Abstract

This study investigates the effectiveness of a globally popular method of self-learning at the right level in improving learning outcomes—the cognitive and noncognitive abilities of disadvantaged students—in a developing country, Bangladesh. Using a randomized controlled trial design, we find substantial improvements in cognitive abilities measured by mathematics test scores and catch-up effects in terms of noncognitive abilities or personality traits measured through a self-esteem scale. Moreover, our study is the first to use alternative cognitive ability measures, that is, time reduction as well as time-adjusted test score, which are critical dimensions of cognitive development. Subsequently, we investigate the long-term effects using students’ math results of the national-level exam. We find a reasonable longer-term impact on cognitive abilities 20 months after the intervention for younger students. Our estimates indicate that the program’s benefits exceed its costs.

Keywords: education, self-learning, cognitive and non-cognitive outcomes, developing countries, randomized control trial

JEL Classification: I20, O12

Suggested Citation

Sawada, Yasuyuki and Mahmud, Minhaj and Seki, Mai and Kawarazaki, Hikaru and Kawarazaki, Hikaru, Fighting the Learning Crisis in Developing Countries: A Randomized Experiment of Self-Learning at the Right Level (June 13, 2022). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3471021 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3471021

Yasuyuki Sawada

University of Tokyo ( email )

Yayoi 1-1-1
Bunkyo-ku
Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657
Japan

Asian Development Bank - Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department (ERCD) ( email )

Philippines

Minhaj Mahmud

Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) ( email )

E-17, Agargao, Shere Bangla Nagar
Dhaka, 1207
Bangladesh

Mai Seki

Ritsumeikan University ( email )

1-1-1 Nojihigashi
Kusatsu, Shiga 5250058
Japan
6137827045 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://https://sites.google.com/site/maisekiuw/

Hikaru Kawarazaki (Contact Author)

University College London - Department of Economics ( email )

Drayton House, 30 Gordon Street
30 Gordon Street
London, WC1H 0AX
United Kingdom

Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) ( email )

7 Ridgmount Street
London, WC1E 7AE
United Kingdom

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