2019/11/26 by Pedro Gomes, Matilde P. Machado · 1 voice
Social Sciences · #Historical Education and Society #Australian History and Society #Intergenerational and Educational Inequality Studies
paper · doi:10.1017/s0212610919000302
openalex publication_date 2019/11/26 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/11
ABSTRACT In 1940, the Portuguese government approved a massive primary school construction plan that projected a 60 per cent increase in the number of primary schools. Based on the collection of a new dataset, we describe literacy levels in Portugal prior to the plan as well as the plan's strategy regarding the location of schools. We then estimate the causal impact of the increase in the number of schools between 1940 and the early 60s on enrolment and literacy, all at the county level. We conclude the increase in the number of schools was responsible for 80 per cent of the increase in enrolment and 13 per cent of the increase in the literacy rate of the affected cohorts.