Social policy reforms and daughters’ schooling in Vietnam

Abstract

Vietnam’s social policy reforms in the transition to a market economy included the introduction of fees for primary and secondary school in the late 1980s. Using data from the Viet Nam Living Standards Surveys, this paper examines how the increasing costs of education to households have impacted on school enrolment between 1993 and 1998, giving special attention to daughters’ schooling. Data shows that, despite rising costs for education, enrolment rates have increased. A multivariate analysis indicates that, compared to sons, daughters’ school enrolment at ages 11–18 yr is much more responsive to household characteristics. Among poor families, daughters’ schooling is particularly vulnerable.