Understanding education policy preferences: Survey experiments with policymakers in 35 developing countries

Area of Science:

• Education Policy
• International Development
• Learning Outcomes

Background:

• Global primary school access has increased, yet learning outcomes in many low- and middle-income countries remain suboptimal.
• International organizations advocate for a policy agenda focused on foundational learning, measured by test scores.
• The implementation of this agenda relies heavily on national decision-makers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the priorities and perspectives of national education policymakers in low- and middle-income countries regarding foundational learning.
• To identify factors influencing policymakers' preferences and their alignment with international donor agendas.
• To assess the impact of evidence on policymakers' beliefs about intervention effectiveness.

Main Methods:

• A survey of 931 senior government education officials across 35 low- and middle-income countries.
• Survey experiments designed to test policymakers' valuation of foundational skills and their responses to information.
• Analysis of variation in preferences based on educational objectives, beliefs about the current state of education, and intervention effectiveness.

Main Results:

• National policymakers generally place a lower value on initiatives specifically targeting foundational skills.
• Significant misalignment exists between national policymakers' views and international donor agendas across multiple dimensions.
• Policymakers' beliefs regarding intervention effectiveness can be influenced by exposure to new evidence.

Conclusions:

• National priorities in education policy may not align with international calls for a focus on foundational learning.
• Understanding national policymakers' objectives and beliefs is crucial for effective education reform and international cooperation.
• Evidence-based policymaking can be fostered by presenting data on intervention effectiveness to national decision-makers.