Chapter 2: Free Primary Education in Sierra Leone and Its Impact on Literacy Rates

This study investigates the impact of a free primary education program in Sierra Leone leading to a substantial increase in access to education, specifically for those of primary school age. As a result of an individual’s date of birth and district of location, we are able to exploit the variation in access to the resources offered through this policy. The average years of schooling increased for both men and women due to the policy, although the effect was almost twice as large for men. We also find that an increase in schooling had a significant impact on literacy rates for men in general; however, the impact on women was only evident for those residing in urban settings. The policy had no effect on the literacy rates of those living in rural areas.