Teacher Incentives

Abstract

We analyze a randomized trial of a program that rewarded Kenyan primary school teachers based on student test scores, with penalties for students not taking the exams. Scores increased on the formula used to reward teachers, and program school students scored higher on the exams linked to teacher incentives. Yet most of the gains were focused on the teacher reward formula. The dropout rate was unchanged. Instead, exam participation increased among enrolled students. Test scores increased on exams linked to the incentives, but not on other, unrelated exams. Teacher attendance and homework assignment were unaffected, but test preparation sessions increased. (JEL I21, I28, J13, O15)

Getting teachers back to the classroom. A systematic review on what works to improve teacher attendance in developing countries

“…Muralidharan and Sandararaman (2009) found positive effects on student learning (mean treatment effect = 0.22 SD) and Glewwe, Ilias, and Kremer (2010) found increased test scores only in the exams linked to the incentives (0.22 SD higher in treatment group).…”

“…Muralidharan and Sundararaman (2009) reported the effects of a programme in India, and Glewwe, Ilias, and Kremer (2010) reported one in Kenya. In India the incentives were monetary and delivered both on an individual and group basis, while in Kenya these were nonmonetary and delivered on a group basis.…”

Spatial and gender inequality in the Kenya certificate of primary education examination results

“…As "… the provision of [school] facilities [tends to be inequitable] … it is not possible to provide the same quality of service in such circumstances" (Education International, 2012: no pp.). The level of local teachereparent cooperation, teacherestudent ratios, as well as teacher motivation and supervision are also known to influence student performance in national exams (Education International, 2012;Glewwe, Ilias, & Kremer, 2010).…”

Whether to Hire Local Contract Teachers? Trade-Off between Skills and Preferences in India

“…Duflo et al 2010, Glewwe et al 2010, Kingdon and Teal, 2007, Muralidharan and Sundararaman, 2011, Banerjee et al 2010. Another recent strand of literature focuses on hiring practices, in particular on the effects of the recruitment of local contract teachers.…”