Rural electrification powers education gains across the Global South

Electrification of rural households can serve as a powerful lever for educational progress and long-term development across the Global South, according to a new study that sheds fresh light on the critical role of electricity in transforming education in developing nations. 

Published in The Energy Journal, the study “Does Rural Household Electrification Improve Education in the Global South? Evidence from a Robust Bayesian Meta-Analysis,” the research combines insights from 33 empirical studies to deliver the most comprehensive analysis yet on how access to modern energy drives educational outcomes in low- and middle-income countries.

The study’s findings show that rural electrification, particularly at the household level, delivers substantial benefits for children’s education, improving study hours, school attendance, and academic performance. But the research also cautions that electrification alone is not a silver bullet, and complementary interventions are needed to maximize the impact for vulnerable populations, particularly girls and low-income households.

How electrification enhances educational opportunities

The research builds a compelling case that access to modern energy acts as a catalyst for improving education in rural areas. By aggregating data from 301 effect sizes across two decades of studies, the authors estimate that modern energy access boosts educational outcomes by an average of 15.4 percentage points, with the strongest gains observed among children.

Household-level electrification is particularly impactful. Children in homes with reliable grid electricity gain an estimated 55 minutes of additional study time per day, a shift that significantly improves their capacity to perform in school. Similarly, solar electrification contributes approximately 42 minutes of extra study time daily, underscoring the growing importance of off-grid and renewable solutions in regions where traditional infrastructure remains limited.

The benefits are not limited to extended study hours. Electrification enhances the overall learning environment by providing better lighting, enabling access to educational media, and improving health through cleaner cooking methods and refrigeration. This healthier, safer environment reduces absenteeism and supports consistent school participation, laying a stronger foundation for academic success.

Uneven gains and the role of context

While the positive effects of electrification are consistent, the study reveals significant variations in impact depending on socioeconomic and demographic contexts. Wealthier households often reap greater educational benefits, leveraging electricity to access digital learning tools and support environments that foster academic achievement. Conversely, poorer households, even with electricity, may struggle to translate access into educational gains without complementary resources such as books, tutoring, or internet connectivity.

Gender disparities also remain a persistent challenge. In many rural communities, girls continue to face disproportionate domestic responsibilities, limiting the time and energy they can devote to studies even after electrification. By contrast, boys more frequently benefit from the additional study time made possible by electric lighting. This dynamic underscores the importance of pairing energy access initiatives with gender-sensitive policies that actively support girls’ education.

Regional variations further complicate the picture. The research finds that countries with supportive infrastructure and investments in education tend to experience the most significant improvements. In areas where school quality, teacher availability, or community engagement is lacking, the impact of electrification on educational attainment and test scores is often muted.

Another key insight is the heterogeneity in outcomes depending on research methods. Studies using randomized control trials (RCTs) and instrumental variable approaches tend to produce more reliable and consistent estimates of impact, highlighting the importance of rigorous methodologies for understanding electrification’s true effects.

Policy imperatives for sustainable impact

Ekeocha and Garikipati argue that the evidence calls for a multi-sectoral, integrated approach to rural development. Electrification programs should not operate in isolation but rather be coupled with educational investments and targeted social interventions to ensure that benefits are equitably distributed and sustainable.

At the household level, electricity reduces time spent on energy-intensive chores, such as water collection or manual food processing. This not only frees children to focus on studies but disproportionately benefits girls, who often shoulder a heavier burden of domestic labor. However, without intentional policies that address gender norms, these gains risk being unevenly realized.

The study also highlights the importance of economic empowerment. Electrification enables micro-enterprises and improves household income, reducing the need for child labor and reinforcing the prioritization of education. Community engagement and public awareness campaigns can further amplify these effects by encouraging families to view education as a long-term investment made more feasible through access to reliable energy.

For policymakers, the findings underline the need for tailored interventions that account for local contexts. In regions where grid expansion is slow or infeasible, decentralized solutions such as solar home systems or mini-grids can deliver meaningful educational benefits while promoting renewable energy adoption. Likewise, integrating electrification efforts with improvements in school infrastructure, such as lighting, digital resources, and internet access, can create a synergistic effect that maximizes learning outcomes.

The authors also call for more robust data collection and experimentation to refine policy strategies. Future research should prioritize household-level studies using causal designs to better capture the nuanced relationships between electrification and educational outcomes across different regions and demographics.