Home vs. School Deworming and Meal Programs: Evidence from Rural Senegal

Abstract

This study uses primary data to assess the impact of deworming and school feeding programs on pupil's educational outcomes measured by test scores. In particular we elaborate on deworming at home vs. school. Relying on Propensity Score Matching and selection models we find that meals program significantly increase pupils' test scores. The impact is more important for pupils who are in schools having association of mothers. Deworming at school has a positive effect on pupils’ performance while deworming at home has a negative impact. This result indicates that the use of widely spread traditional deworming medicines should be discouraged. Among the determinants of test scores, class size displays a U-shaped relation pointing to the crucial role of group effect in shaping pupils' knowledge. The impact of programs does vary depending on the gender of pupils. Policy analysis including cost-effectiveness is also provided.