Faith-based Schools: Conditions for Success

This evidence brief by the Education Finance Network reviews the literature on faith-based schools in low- and middle-income countries and identifies the conditions necessary for these schools to improve learning outcomes for disadvantaged students.

Faith-based schools make up an integral part of the non-state school sector. They offer unique opportunities for expanding access to education and are important partners to consider in education provision.  However, many partnerships between governments and faith-based schools have struggled to strike an appropriate balance between government regulation and school autonomy and flexibility. Further, faith-based schools often face challenges in balancing multiple priorities set by faith-based institutions, government stakeholders, and parents.

This evidence brief summarizes available evidence and points to three conditions that are necessary to ensure that faith-based schools can provide both access and quality. For each condition, a set of key implications for policy makers highlights how governments can best support faith-based schools in achieving these dual educational aims.