Education infrastructure could include how learners get to and from school. An interesting study by IPA in Zambia shows that increased use of bicycles had a big impact on learners and education.

The study consisted of 2,471 female students across 100 government primary schools (45 treatment schools and 55 control schools) in Southern Zambia. Randomization was at the school level. Of this number 1,112 girl students received Buffalo Bicycles (treatment group) and 1,359 girls did not receive bicycles (control group). Girls in the study were in grades 5, 6 and 7 when they received the bicycle. The average age of participants was 13 years old. Participants lived between 3km and 10km from school.

The following results were found in the study:

• Bicycles reduced the girls’ commute time by one-third, saving them more than an hour each day.
• The bicycles increased punctuality by 66%. The bicycles reduced the days that girls arrived late by one and a half days per week.
• The bicycles reduced absenteeism by 28%. The girls with bicycles attended school approximately five more days per year than girls without bicycles.
• Girls with bicycles scored higher on a mathematics assessment test.
• Girls were one-third less likely to miss school or leave home early from schools due to concern for their safety.
• The bicycles reduced the probability of being harassed on the way to school by 22%.

The full study is available here

Report and image: Wheels of Change and IPA