Getting the message: Using parental text messaging to increase learner attendance

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dc.contributor.advisorBurns, Justineen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorOwsley, Nicholasen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2017-09-26T14:57:26Z
dc.date.available2017-09-26T14:57:26Z
dc.date.issued2017en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThis paper presents results from a randomised controlled trial in low-income neighbourhoods in Cape Town, South Africa, to test whether parental messages can increase learner attendance at after-school programmes. Parents who were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups received simple weekly text messages providing them with information about their children's attendance in the previous week. Learners whose parents received text messages attended on average 5.6%-6.1% more after-school sessions than the control group (p<0.01), after controlling for background characteristics and spillover effects. This effect was sustained over the course of the observation period. Structured interviews with parents suggest that those parents who received messages were more likely to engage their children regarding the after-school programme, and were better able to monitor their children's attendance. The intervention cost approximately R1.01 per child per week and has potential for replication. However, good quality data collection systems and regular updates of parent contact information are important for the success of similar interventions. This paper shows that low-cost text messages to poorer parents can increase learners' investment in their education, and shows potential to be scaled up.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationOwsley, N. (2017). <i>Getting the message: Using parental text messaging to increase learner attendance</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,School of Economics. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25411en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationOwsley, Nicholas. <i>"Getting the message: Using parental text messaging to increase learner attendance."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,School of Economics, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25411en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationOwsley, N. 2017. Getting the message: Using parental text messaging to increase learner attendance. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Owsley, Nicholas AB - This paper presents results from a randomised controlled trial in low-income neighbourhoods in Cape Town, South Africa, to test whether parental messages can increase learner attendance at after-school programmes. Parents who were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups received simple weekly text messages providing them with information about their children's attendance in the previous week. Learners whose parents received text messages attended on average 5.6%-6.1% more after-school sessions than the control group (p<0.01), after controlling for background characteristics and spillover effects. This effect was sustained over the course of the observation period. Structured interviews with parents suggest that those parents who received messages were more likely to engage their children regarding the after-school programme, and were better able to monitor their children's attendance. The intervention cost approximately R1.01 per child per week and has potential for replication. However, good quality data collection systems and regular updates of parent contact information are important for the success of similar interventions. This paper shows that low-cost text messages to poorer parents can increase learners' investment in their education, and shows potential to be scaled up. DA - 2017 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2017 T1 - Getting the message: Using parental text messaging to increase learner attendance TI - Getting the message: Using parental text messaging to increase learner attendance UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25411 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/25411
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationOwsley N. Getting the message: Using parental text messaging to increase learner attendance. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,School of Economics, 2017 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25411en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentSchool of Economicsen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Commerceen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherEconomic Developmenten_ZA
dc.titleGetting the message: Using parental text messaging to increase learner attendanceen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMComen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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