Farewell India

My internship at ASER CENTRE has finished. In this post I present what I really learned during the internship.

Data is not enough: One of my tasks was to analyze data from an evaluation in basic Math and Language of students in India (called ASER) done for the years 2010, 2011 and 2012.  I found that there is consistent evidence of female disadvantage in Mathematics. For example, in the age group 10-12, the percentage of students that attained the highest level is on average 3 percentage points higher for males than for females. In the age group 13-16 years old, the gap in learning attainment increases over time, and between 2010 and 2012 almost doubles: while in 2010 the difference between male and female students that attained the highest level was 3 percent in 2012 this gap grows to almost 6 percent.

After reviewing literature and data sets for six weeks, we finally went to the field.  There I really interact with that social norms and beliefs that affect the gender gap. For example, the fact that a teacher said “Girls are dumb; they can’t even speak properly”   reflect how challenging is improving access and learning outcomes for girls. Policymakers have to take into account these realities to do effective policies.

(Girls I met in the field trip)

The school and the house: I strongly believe that education starts before a child is enrolled in school. Many of the bias against women professional development are generated at home. Policymakers sometimes think that improving educational outcomes requires and intervention at school and with kids.  Evidence show, for example, that enhances women’s empowerment at home increases learning outcomes for girls.

Girls are not Brides: Last week I came across with this initiative (http://www.girlsnotbrides.org/where-does-it-happen/). The effects of marriage in educational outcomes are well documented, but it is not the same to read in a paper that to listen for an 11 years old girl (already married) that her plans in live is to wait until she is 18 years old to move with her husband. Understanding the dynamics of arranged marriage is a cornerstone of any strategy that aims to reduce the gender gap.

I hope you have enjoyed my posts. I am very grateful with the Women and Public Policy Program ant the Culture Bridge Fellowship for supporting this experience, that will have a strong impact in my professional development.