Primary School Enrolment In South-Sudan: Evidence From Cross-Sectional Survey Data

Abstract

In spite of the important role of human capital investment in a country’s socioeconomic development, primary school enrolment in Sub-Sahara Africa and particularly in South-Sudan remains very low. This study examines the correlates of primary school enrolment rates in South-Sudan using a binary Probit regression model applied to a nationally representative cross-sectional survey of 3,550 households. We establish that individual, household and community factors are influential in the enrolment decision. In relation to individual correlates, we find that boys are 7.5% more likely to be enrolled than girls. Similarly, an additional year of a child’s age increases enrolment by 4.9%. In terms of household correlates, we find that household size, asset ownership, paternal and maternal age and education are directly correlated with enrolment while inversely related to higher household expenditure. In terms of community characteristics, we observe that enrolment is inversely related to distance to the nearest school and being a rural resident. Finally, the evidence reveals the existence of wide regional and gender differentials in school enrolment in South-Sudan. Based on these findings we conclude that gender and regional gaps require intervention to avoid the negative externalities of low human capital on the economy and it is recommended that subsidization of primary education will ultimately incentive parents to enrol their children as the cost of enrolling a child will have been cutback. Similarly, the government needs to invest in the infrastructure and ensuring schools are within reach.