PRIMARY-EDUCATION AS AN INPUT INTO POSTPRIMARY EDUCATION - A NEGLECTED BENEFIT

In some developing countries private rates of return to primary educat ion have fallen to low levels. An explanation is provided as to why th is fall need not reduce the demand for primary education, Primary scho oling is a necessary input into post-primary. In an educational system that is demand-constrained at the primary and supply-constrained at t he post-primary level, the 'prospect' of post-primary schooling raises the primary return above the rate as conventionally measured. An appl ication of the model to two countries - Cote d'Ivoire and Uganda - dou bles the primary rate of return in each case.