developing countries disparities academic achievement
Abstract:
Many countries experienced dramatic economic growth in recent decades, but within-country growth was unequally distributed, and disparities persist by race, ethnicity, and social class. Although education should promote equity across social groups, this idealization falls short when educational resources are unequally distributed. Instead, educational disparities perpetuate within-country inequality. I examine disparities in academic skill development by social group in Ethiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam using data from the Young Lives Study, a longitudinal study of childhood poverty. I examine characteristics that predict academic achievement on three domains: math, literacy, and total completed grades, within each country. Then, I decompose the differences within each country to highlight the particular factors contributing to observed disparities. I discuss the findings in terms of policy implications to reduce educational disparities.
