The impact of ICT diffusion on primary schooling in The Gambia: a synthetic control approach

Abstract: Using national-level data from countries within sub-Saharan Africa, this paper investigates the impact of ICT diffusion, measured through Internet penetration, on primary school completion. Digital inequalities, as well as an overrepresentation of children out of school, particularly affect poor- and rural population groups in sub-Saharan Africa. While ICT has been identified as essential in order to mitigate educational challenges, research on the relationship between ICT and education is lacking. This study utilises the Synthetic Control Method in combination with a critical threshold of Internet penetration to study the causality and aims to provide value for policymakers in relation to ICT deployment and developments of the education system. The evidence for the actual outcome of The Gambia compared with the synthetic counterfactual displays a negative treatment effect on primary school completion, albeit placebo- and robustness tests show weak validity. Limitations put forth by the SCM in the specific context yield a null result and leave room for future research to address the relationship between ICT and education. The authors encourage further research using the newly developed Augmented SCM, as well as broader research into the interplay of determinants of educational performance and educational attainment. Future studies should furthermore expand upon secondary and tertiary education, not covered in this study.