Socio-economic and demographic determinants of children’s primary school enrollment in Ethiopia

Eshetu Gurmu, Addis Ababa University
Dula Etana, Addis Ababa University

Achieving universal primary education is among the development goals that every nation promises to achieve in 2015. As children’s school enrollment is partly dependent on parental decision that considers various factors, this study attempts to examine the effects of socio-economic and demographic characteristics of households on children’s primary school enrollment. Using the 2005 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey data, a binary logistic regression model was fitted to identify determinants of children’s schooling. The findings indicate that the increase in the number of siblings decreases the likelihood of children’s enrollment in early ages (7-10 years) but increases at later ages. Low socio-economic status of households, loss of mother, and residence in rural areas tend to reduce the likelihood of enrollment whilst those living in female headed households and born to educated parents have higher chances. The study generally entails the importance of improving household well-being to widen chances of children’s schooling.