This paper examines the impact of South Africa’s Child Support Grant (CSG) on
the schooling and learning attainments of children. Children who were enrolled
in the CSG at birth completed 0.14 more grades of schooling than children who
were enrolled at age six. There are marked gender differences. Early CSG
enrollment improves girls’ grade attainment and their scores on tests of
mathematical ability and reading. There are no impacts on boys’ schooling or
learning. The CSG plays a compensatory role in narrowing the grade attainment
gap between children whose mothers have not completed primary school and
mothers with at least some secondary education. This occurs because early
receipt of CSG reduces the likelihood that children from disadvantaged
backgrounds are less likely to enroll late.