Tackling Implementation Challenges with Information: Experimental Evidence from a School Governance Reform in Tanzania

This paper investigates inter-agency coordination challenges in implementing Tanzania's nationwide school governance programme, which generates school- and teacher-specific diagnostics and recommendations to enhance quality. However, information and managerial frictions between agencies undermine the programme's efficacy. In a random subset of schools, we implement a text message intervention, providing local bureaucrats with summaries of the recommendations. We find the programme improved student learning and teaching practices, but only when combined with text messages. Notably, gains were larger in regions with additional monitoring resources. Addressing these implementation challenges positions this initiative among the most cost-effective education programmes known to date.

DOI: 10.35489/bsg-rise-wp_2023/142 openalex: W4384203433