Impact of School Canteens on School Retention and Academic Performance in the Atlantic Department (Benin)

In Benin, obstacles to universal access to primary education persist. In rural areas, enrolment and attendance rates remain low due to several factors. Fam- ilies living in poverty may not be able to afford to send their children to school; although the government has eliminated primary school fees, parents still have to buy school uniforms and supplies. There is also an opportunity cost associ- ated with sending girls to school, rather than keeping them at home where they can help their...