From Access to Achievement: The Primary School-Age Impacts of an At-Scale Preschool Construction Program in Highly Deprived Communities

We evaluate a large-scale public preschool construction program in deprived rural communities in Mozambique using a randomized controlled trial. The program increased preschool enrollment from 2 to 75 percent, improved primary school enrollment and progression, and led treated children to score higher in cognitive and social-emotional skills tests. Impacts were strongest among children of illiterate parents, in less poor households, and living near preschools. We provide evidence that preschool construction mediates later educational success at primary school age. We also detect increased parental investment in children and higher preschool enrollment for younger siblings. Finally, we estimate the program was implemented cost-effectively. (JEL I21, I26, I32, J13, O15, O18)