Can the quality of school management explain differences in student test scores? In this
paper I present the first internationally benchmarked estimates of school management quality
in Africa (based on the “World Management Survey”). The level and distribution of
management quality is similar to that found in other low and middle- income countries (India
and Brazil). I combine this data with individual student panel data, and demonstrate that
differences in school management quality matter for student value-added - a standard
deviation difference in management is associated with a 0.06 standard deviation difference in
test scores. Finally I contribute to understanding the role of the private sector in education in
a low-income setting. Contrary to common perception, I find no difference between the
quality of school management in government, private, or public-private partnership (PPP)
schools (despite the higher level of autonomy available to them). An exception is an
internationally-owned chain of PPP schools, which are as well managed as schools in the
UK.