This paper investigates the causes of under-enrolment and low school quality in Africa, distinguishing between those related to the provision of schooling by the State, and those related to the demand for the service by households.
The paper argues that,whilst strong imbalances between male and female enrolments are best understood asdemand-side phenomena, policies on the supply-side to improve the quality andquantity of schooling available, and to reduce its costs to households, will be critical toincreasing the enrolment of girls in schools.
