LAUSR

AbstractThis paper investigates the role of early year school experience in later educational attainment. Using Indonesia Family Life Survey, we find that grade retention at primary school is associated with a reduction in the probability of progressing from primary to junior. It is also associated with lower school continuation from junior to senior high school. The relationship is persistent across years and samples. Meanwhile hours spent at primary school and age starting primary school have limited effects on school continuation. We also observe that the effect of parental education and household income on the primary-junior school transition are getting weaker over time. Given the long-term impact of retention, policymakers should be cautious in using retention as an academic intervention for children with academic difficulties and be looking for better alternative interventions.