The effectiveness of education assistance programs using AI innovation. Case for tackling school dropout in Morocco

Abstract

Introduction: since 2008, Morocco’s Tayssir program has been a key public initiative aimed at combating school dropout rates, by offering conditional cash transfers to households with school-aged children, particularly targeting rural communities with high poverty rates. This initiative seeks to ensure equitable access to education, regardless of socioeconomic status, and boosted school attendance rates. Objective: to assess the impact of the Tayssir program on reducing school dropout rates in rural Morocco and to examine the effectiveness of targeting strategies and incentives provided to families. Methods: the study utilized cross-sectional data from the Household Survey Panel Data. Propensity score matching (PSM) techniques were employed to estimate the program’s impact on school dropout rates, comparing beneficiaries with a control group not participating in the program. Various statistical analyses were conducted to explore the characteristics of participants and to validate the logistic model used. Results: the propensity score matching analysis revealed a statistically significant reduction in school dropout rates among beneficiaries of the Tayssir program. The average treatment effect on the treated (ATET) demonstrated a decrease in dropout rates by approximately 43 % using one-to-one matching, 42,7 % with k-nearest neighbor, and 38,6 % via kernel matching methods. Furthermore, no significant gender differences were observed in the program’s impact. Conclusions: the Tayssir program has significantly contributed to reducing school dropout rates in rural Morocco, ensuring better access to education for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The program’s effectiveness underscores the importance of targeted interventions and conditional cash transfers in promoting educational attainment. Future recommendations include expanding the beneficiary base, refining targeting mechanisms, and establishing a unified social registry to improve program governance.