Table 1 List of variable definition

Variable	Definition of variables
Dependent variables
Attendance 2013	Binary variable taking 1 if the child attends the school or 0 otherwise (Baseline is 2010 and endline is 2013).
Attendance 2016	Binary variable taking 1 if the child attends the school or 0 otherwise (Baseline is 2013 and endline is 2016).
Literacy 2013	Binary variable, taking 1 if the child can read Chichewa or English, 0 otherwise (Baseline is 2010 and endline is 2013).
Literacy 2016	Binary variable taking 1 if the child can read Chichewa or English, 0 otherwise (Baseline is in 2013 and endline is in 2016).
Family characteristics
Maternal education	Mothers’ education level.
Paternal education	Fathers’ education level.
Household size	Household size.
Household welfare	Annual household consumption in MK.
Individual characteristics
Age	Official primary-age (6–14) and secondary age (15–18).
Primary student	Dummy variable taking 1 if the child is primary-aged, or 0 otherwise.
Girl	Dummy variable, taking 1 if the child is female or 0 otherwise.

Source: Created by Author based on IHPS Data (2018).
IHPS, Integrated Household Panel Survey.