## Educating Children in Poor Countries

_Economic Issues, June 1, 2005_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Educating Children in Poor Countries](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/economic-issues/issues/2016/12/30/educating-children-in-poor-countries-16604)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/publications/economic-issues/issues/2016/12/30/educating-children-in-poor-countries-16604/index.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/en/publications/economic-issues/issues/2016/12/30/educating-children-in-poor-countries-16604/index.json)
- [Bundle manifest](/en/publications/economic-issues/issues/2016/12/30/educating-children-in-poor-countries-16604/bundle-manifest.json)

## Bibliographic details
- Authors: Eva Jenkner, Arye L. Hillman
- Published: June 1, 2005
- Series: Economic Issues
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781589062436.051

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### Summary
- In an ideal world, primary education would be universal and publicly financed, and all children would be able to attend school regardless of their parents’ ability or willingness to pay.
- In many poor countries, governments lack either the financial resources or the political will to provide each child with a basic education.
- Despite the benefits that would accrue not only to individuals but to society as a whole, some governments do not provide universal primary education.
- In some of these countries, parents cover part or all of the cost of their children’s education.
- This paper explores the pros and cons of user payments.

### Subject and Keywords
- Subject: Education, National accounts, Personal income
- Keywords: Community-managed school, East Asia, EI, government, Personal income, school, school administrator, school attendance, School enrollment, School fee, school management, school supplies, South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, user payment

### Core analytical focus
- The trade-off between universal publicly financed primary education and user payments in poor countries.
- Fiscal and political constraints that lead to partial or full reliance on parental payments for schooling.
- Consideration of social and individual benefits of basic education versus the equity and access implications of user fees.

*International Monetary Fund. Educating Children in Poor Countries. Economic Issues No. 2005/003 (2005).*

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/economic-issues/issues/2016/12/30/educating-children-in-poor-countries-16604_