The Impact of Education Policies on Girls' Schooling in Rural Benin

Education is a powerful tool, and its effects ripple through generations. Research in rural Benin uses a unique approach to explore how education policies influence parents' decisions to educate their daughters. The study found that educated parents are more likely to send their daughters to school, even without special programs. When financial support like tuition fee subsidies comes into play, the difference between educated and non-educated parents becomes even clearer. Non-educated parents see a bigger boost in sending their daughters to school when fees are reduced. But, if the income gap between educated and non-educated households is small, both groups respond strongly to policy changes. It's like a puzzle where income and preferences combine to shape decisions. Wealth matters too. If educated families have more money, reducing school costs has a bigger impact on non-educated families. But when the income gap is smaller, both groups benefit more equally from policy changes. This shows that policies must consider both income and preferences to make a real difference.