PATH to a ‘better’ life? Exploring the influence of conditional assistance from the Programme of Advancement through Health and Education (PATH) on the lives of its beneficiaries in Jamaica
The Programme of Advancement through Health and Education (PATH) is a Conditional Cash Transfer Programme (CCTP) in Jamaica. PATH provides cash to vulnerable households and as a result, anticipates increased school attendance and performance, and consequently, human capital. Following that, child beneficiaries’ labour market/employment outcomes are envisaged to increase, enabling them to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty. Consistent with evaluations of CTPs globally, evaluations of PATH have, however, indicated that beyond increased attendance, there is no evidence of increased school performance. Problematic for PATH’s ability to achieve its intended outcomes, such findings thus warranted an exploration of PATH’s influence. To expand on previous studies of CTPs–the majority of which have been quantitative–this study employed qualitative methodology to conduct semi-structured, in-depth interviews with twenty beneficiaries across four parishes in Jamaica. Utilising interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), this research sought to answer the question ‘According to parent and child beneficiaries, to what extent, and in what ways, has PATH assistance influenced their lives?’ The ‘influence’–in the investigation and subsequently, the findings–was framed using concepts associated with the Capability Approach, and primarily, the idea of a ‘better’ life. By adopting a unique approach in the field of CTPs, conceptualising PATH’s influence through the lens of beneficiaries’ capabilities, agency and functionings, and maintaining a focus on facilitative or harmful conversion factors, facilitated a more in-depth exploration of the nature and extent of PATH’s influence. Importantly, it also enabled differential influences on parents and children to emerge. Ultimately, findings from this research suggest that the influence of CCTPs on child beneficiaries’ education extends beyond academic performance (measured by grades and test scores), as has been narrowly the focus of most existing research on such programmes. Indeed, findings demonstrate that the receipt of PATH assistance contributes to children’s acquisition of knowledge and skills and enhanced personal development. Together, these were envisaged to enable children to have ‘better’ lives, which consisted of more desirable and stable jobs of their choosing and an enhanced quality of life. Anticipated to benefit not only children but additionally, their households, communities and the Jamaican society, overall, this research demonstrates the potential for CTPs to have a more expansive positive influence on beneficiaries, their education and correspondingly, their lives, even in a context wherein improvements in school performance, were not evident.
Conditional Cash Transfer, Cash Transfer, Capability Approach, Cash Transfer Programme, PATH Programme, Jamaica, Wider benefits of education
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