In this short note, we summarize findings from a forthcoming analysis for 39 countries with unusually large over-enrollment in the early primary grades. We investigate the scope of the problem, the underlying causes and some potential solutions. Our analysis reveals that this over-enrollment is explained primarily by excessive, sustained repetition in the early grades. This pattern results in substantial system inefficiencies and wastage. We discuss policy implications related to expansion of pre-primary education, improvement of quality in the early grades and allocation of resources.
