1 2
T.Jansirani,R.Seenivasan1AssistantProfessorofEconomics,S.M.SCollegeofArtsandScience,Sivakasi,TamilNadu,India.
2AssistantProfessorofMathematicalEconomics,SchoolofEconomics,MaduraiKamarajUniversity,Madurai,TamilNadu,India.
DropoutisawidespreadoccurrenceinIndia'seducationalsystem,affectingalllevelsofeducation,allpartsofthecountry,andallsocioeconomiccategories.Dropout ratesaresignificantlyhigherineducationallyunderdevelopedstatesanddistricts.Nearlysixtyyearsago,Indiaestablishedaconstitutionalcommitmenttoprovide freeandcompulsoryeducationtoallchildrenuptotheageof14.Evennow,theaim,whichwassupposedtobefulfilledby1960,remainselusive.Thestudy'smain goalsaretodeterminethetypeofschooldropoutsinthestudyarea,determinethereasonsforschooldropoutsinthestudyarea,investigatelifestylechangesfollowing schooldropouts,andgivevalidremediestotheschooldropoutproblem.Theresearchisbasedonbothprimaryandsecondarysourcesofinformation.Alamelumangi puram,Keelachathiram,andThulukkankurichiarethethreehamletsthatmakeupThulukkankurichiPanchayat.Theresearchergathereddatafrom60dropoutschool pupilsusingthesnowballsamplingtechnique.Accordingtothefindings,schoolofficialsshouldeducatechildrenandtheirparentsabouttheimportanceofeducation, andschoolofficialsshouldmakespecialeffortstoreachouttoslowlearnersandweakpupils.
KEYWORDS:Population;Inequality;Education;StatusofChildren;School.
DropoutisawidespreadphenomenoninIndia'seducationalsystem,affectingall levelsofeducation,allregionsofthecountry,andallsocioeconomiccategories. Dropout rates are significantly higher in educationally underdeveloped states and districts. In India, girls drop out at a higher rate than boys. Children from sociallydisadvantagedgroups,suchasScheduledCastesandScheduledTribes, also have greater dropout rates than the general population. There are also regionalandgeographicinequalities,withchildreninruralandremotelocations beingmorelikelytodropoutofschool.Failuretograduatehighschoolhasnegativeconsequencesforpeopleandamplifiesexistingsocialandeconomicinequities.
Educationalplannersmuststudyandidentifythesocialgroupsthataremoresusceptibletodropoutandthecausesfortheirdropoutinordertoreducewasteand increasetheefficiencyoftheeducationalsystem.Adolescentsdropoutnotonly asaresultofpovertyandfinancialconstraints,butalsoasaresultofschoolsfailingtorespondadequatelytotheirparticulareducationalrequirements,pushing themtodropout.Thereportadvisesthatthestatetakeaholisticapproachtothe dropoutproblem,ratherthantreatingitasanisolatedissuethatcanbeaddressed without regard for the broader socioeconomic context and poor educational deliveryinwhichitisrooted.Toaddresstheissueofdropoutamongchildrenlivinginslumregions,preventiveandrestorativemeasures,brieflydiscussed,are required.Despitethefactthatthestudyisconductedatthemicrolevel,theanalysis provides important policy insights in terms of broader educational policies aiming at promoting educational fairness and quality through the implementationofappropriateinterventionsforparticulargroupsatthelocallevel.
Every 26 seconds, theAmerican Educational Report reported on school dropouts.Everyday,7000studentsdropoutofschoolasaresultofoneschoolchild discontinuingtheireducation.
Nearlysixtyyearsago,India'sConstitutionmandatedthatallchildrenunderthe age of 14 get free and compulsory education. Even though the target was supposedtobemetby1960,ithasyettoberealised.However,recenteventshave hadaconsiderableimpactonthesituation,enhancingtheprospectofuniversal basic education becoming a reality in a realistic time frame. Three major elementsappeartobeinfluencingthecountry'selementaryeducationgrowthtrend. Primaryeducation,orelementaryeducationinIndia,isprioritisedbytheIndian governmenttilltheageoffourteenyears.TheRightofChildrentoFreeandCompulsory EducationAct 2009 also made education free for children aged six to fourteenyearsoruptoclassVIII.InIndia,educationissuppliedbyboththepublicandcommercialsectors,witheachhavinginfluenceandfunding.TamilNadu hasthreetiersofgovernment:central,state,andlocal. TheIndianConstitution recogniseseducationasafundamentalrightinvariousarticles.Toguaranteethat childrendonotworkinhazardousconditions,theIndiangovernmenthasbanned childlabour
AcompletedprimaryeducationisabasichumanrightinthestateofTamilNadu, anditisrequiredfortheenjoymentofmanyotherrights.Itistransformingand
powerful, as well as a means of gaining access to a wide range of economic, social, political, and cultural advantages. By lowering poverty and inequities, educationhelpstoestablishmorejustsocieties.Withoutconsistentinvestmentin education,nocountryhaseverprogressedupthehumandevelopmentladder PrimaryeducationisacriticalcomponentinachievingalloftheMillenniumDevelopment Goals (MDGs) as well as long-term development. The MDGs aims to achieveuniversalprimaryeducation.Everykidhastherighttoattendschool,yet millions of children are still unable to do so. Universal primary education involvesstartingschoolatayoungageandworkingyourwaythroughthesystem.Universalprimaryeducationinvolvesenrollingattheappropriateage,moving through the system, and finishing the entire cycle. Over 30 million more youngstersareinschooltodaythanatthestartofthedecade.
Therearemanyreasonsbehindtheschooldropout.Ifthedropoutrateincreasesit willnotonlyincreasetheilliteratepeopleintheeconomybutalsoitwillleadsto increaseinunwantedsocialeventsintheeconomy.Eventhoughmanyreasons behind the school dropout discussed by many people and proved by research. Themostimportantthemareunwillingthecontinuetheirstudybecauseoflack of interest; misbehave in the school either with the fellow mates or with the teacher Firstly,thechildrendropoutfromtheschooleitherbyhimselforherself becauseoflackinterestorfamilyproblemslikepoverty,lacksupportorsudden deathofthebreadwinnerofthefamily Secondly,thestudentsaredropoutdueto thepunishmentgivenbytheschoolauthoritiesduetotheirmisbehavior Once wedropoutthechildrenfromtheschool,attheyoungeragetheydon'thaveany meansandwaytogetintoabetterlife.Consideringtheboys,alreadytheircharacterisnotgood,ifwedropthemfromschool,theywillbecomeanantisocialelementandenteredintoantisocialactivitiesliketheftorhebecomearowdyanddisturbthesociety Ifwedropoutthegirlsfromschoolduetoanyreason,theywill enterintofamilylifeattheearlyageorhavingmisconductwithothersandthere isachanceforincreaseinchildsexworkersandsoon.Thiswillbecomeavery bigheadachetothesocietyandalsoforeconomicdevelopment.Thesereasons stimulatedtheresearchertoundertakeastudyonthe“AStudyonSchoolDropoutsinThulukkankurichiPanchayatofVembakkottaiBlock”
Toidentifythenatureofschooldropoutsinthestudyarea
Tofindoutthereasonsbehindtheschooldropoutsinthestudyarea
Tostudythelifestylechangeafterschooldropoutsand
Toprovidevalidsolutionstosolvetheproblemofschooldropouts.
METHODOLOGY:
Thestudyisbasedonbothprimaryandsecondarydata.
SecondaryData:
Thebasicinformationrequiredforthestudyistobecollectedfromdistricteducationaloffice,reportsandwebsites.
PrimaryData: Primary data related to the present study is collected from the respondents by adoptingapredeterminedandpre-testedinterviewschedule.
SamplingDesign:
Thulukkankurichi Panchayat consists of three hamlets namely Alamelumangi puram,KeelachathiramandThulukkankurichi.Byadoptingsnowballsampling techniquetheresearcherhascollectedinformationfrom60dropoutschoolstudents.
ToolsofAnalysis: Ÿ Averages Ÿ Percentages
Thischapterattemptstoshow theschooldropoutofthesamplerespondentsin the study area This study is focusing the school dropout children in ThulukkankurichiPanchayat.Itisessentialtoevaluatetheschooldropoutconditionofthesamplerespondents.Because,educationwillplayanimportantrolein determiningthechildren.
Sex–WiseClassificationoftheRespondents: Table1depictsthesex-wiseclassificationofthesamplerespondentsinthestudy area.
S.No. Sex Frequency Percentage
1 Male 27 45.00 2 Female 33 55.00 Total 60 100
Source:CalculatedonthebasisofSurveyData
It is inferred fromTable One that out of 60 respondents, 27 (45.00 per cent) of themaremaleandtheremaining33respondents(55.00percent)arefemale.Itis evidentthatthepercentageoffemaledropoutisgreaterthanthemaledropout.It istakenintoconsiderationbecause,itisadangertothedevelopmentofthesocietyandtheeconomy
Age-wiseClassificationoftheSampleRespondents: Table2depictstheclassificationofthesamplerespondentsonthebasisofagewise
Age No.ofRespondents Percentage
Below10 3 5.00 10-15 30 50.00 Above15 27 45.00 Total 60 100
Source:CalculatedonthebasisofSurveyData
It is understood from Table 2 that out of 60 respondents, 30 (50. 00 per cent) respondentsareintheagegroupbetween10and15.Theremaining27(45.00per cent)andthree(5.00percent)respondentscomeundertheagegroupofabove15 yearsandbelow10yearsrespectively
Community-wiseClassificationoftheSampleRespondent: Community-wise classification of the sample respondents in the study area is giveninTable3
S.No. Community No.ofRespondents Percentage
1 BC 10 16.70 2 SC 29 48.30 3 MBC 21 35.00 Total 60 100
Source:CalculatedonthebasisofSurvey
ItisinferredfromTable3thatoutof60respondents,10(16.70 percent)ofthem arebelongstoBCand 29respondents(48.30percent)belongtoSC.Another21 respondents (35.00 per cent) come under MBC. It is concluded from this table that, in Thulukkankurichi panchayat SC households are more in number comparedtoBCandMBC.
CausesforSchoolDropouts: Table4showsthereasonsbehindtheschooldropoutinthestudyarea.
S.No. Reasons No.ofRespondents Percentage 1 FinancialProblem 5 8.3 2 Familyproblem 14 23.3 3 NoInterest 25 41.7 4 TransportProblem 2 3.3 5 FailedinExamination 4 6.7 6 Teacher/studentproblem 1 1.7 7 PhysicallyChallenged 3 5.0 8 Deathofearningperson 6 10.0 Total 60 100
ItisclearfromTable4thatoutof60respondents,25(41.70percent)respondents opinedthatnointerestamongthechildrentogotoschoolandstudyinthemain reason for school dropout.Another 14 (23.30 per cent) respondents are of the opinionthatfamilyproblemisthereasonbehindtheschooldropoutsinthestudy area.Another five (8.3 per cent), four (6.7 per cent), six (10.0 per cent), three (5.0percent),two(3.3percent)andone(1.7percent)respondentsinferredthat financialproblem,failedinexaminations,deathofearningmembers,physically challenged, transport problem and teacher – student problems are the reasons behindtheschooldropouts.Itisconcludedfromthistablethat2/3rdofopinion fallsundernointerestandfamilyproblemarethemajorreasonsfordropoutin thestudyarea.
Figure1:CausesforSchoolDropoutoftheSampleRespondents
Theresearcherwantstoknowaboutthecurrentpositionofthedropoutstudents. Because, it is very much essential to identify whether the dropout students are engaged in any work or they are idle.Accordingly the researcher has collected information,classifiedandthesameisgiveninTable5.
S.No Present No.ofRespondents Percentage 1 DomesticWork 12 20.00 2 Married 11 18.30 3 OutSideWork 37 61.70 Total 60 100
Source:CalculatedonthebasisofSurveyData
ItisclearfromTable5thatoutof60respondents,37(61.7percent)respondents havemovedfromtheirnatureplacetootherplacesandinvolvedincasualwork. Another11(18.3percent)respondents(girls)gotmarried.Schooldropoutisone ofthemainreasonsforchildmarriageorearlymarriage.Theremaining12(20.0 per cent) respondents engaged as casual workers in and around their nature places. School dropout leads to migration of person from one place to another placeforseekingemployment.
FINDINGS
SUGGESTIONS: Ÿ Theanalysisonthe60respondents,27(45.00percent)ofthemaremaleand theremaining33respondents(55.00percent)arefemale.Itisevidentthat thepercentageoffemaledropoutisgreaterthanthemaledropout.Itistaken intoconsiderationbecause;itisadangertothedevelopmentofthesociety andtheeconomy
Ÿ
Ÿ
Thirty(50.00percent)respondentsareintheagegroupbetween10and15.
The remaining 27 (45.00 per cent) and three (5.00 per cent) respondents comeundertheagegroupofabove15yearsandbelow10yearsrespectively
Ÿ
Ten(16.70percent)ofthemarebelongstoBCand29respondents(48.30per cent) belong to SC. Another 21 respondents (35.00 per cent) come under MBC.Itisconcludedfromthistablethat,inThulukkankurichipanchayatSC householdsaremoreinnumbercomparedtoBCandMBC.
Twentyfive(41.70percent)respondentsopinedthatnointerestamongthe children to go to school and study in the main reason for school dropout. Another14(23.30percent)respondentsareoftheopinionthatfamilyproblemisthereasonbehindtheschooldropoutsinthestudyarea.Anotherfive (8.3percent),four (6.7percent),six(10.0percent),three(5.0percent),two (3.3percent)andone(1.7percent)respondentsinferredthatfinancialproblem, failed in examinations, death of earning members, physically challenged, transport problem and teacher – student problems are the reasons behindtheschooldropouts.Itisconcludedfromthistablethat2/3rdofopinionfallsundernointerestandfamilyproblemarethemajorreasonsfordropoutinthestudyarea.
Ÿ
Thirtyseven(61.7percent)respondentshavemovedfromtheirnatureplace to other places and involved in casual work. Another 11 (18.3 per cent) respondents (girls) got married. School dropout is one of the main reasons for child marriage or early marriage. The remaining 12 (20.0 per cent) respondents engaged as casual workers in and around their nature places. Schooldropoutleadstomigrationofpersonfromoneplacetoanotherplace forseekingemployment.
Ÿ Awarenessontheimportanceofeducationshouldbegivenbytheauthorities tothestudentsandtheirparents
Ÿ
Theschoolauthoritiesmakesomespecialeffortstoimpacteducationtothe slowlearnersandweakstudents
Ÿ
Ÿ
Adequateamountoftransportfacilitiesshouldbeprovidedbytheauthorities atleastduringschoolhours
TheGovernmentauthoritiesshouldtakeefforttoappointadequatenumber ofteachersinschoolbothinruralandinurbanareas.
Ÿ
Teachersshouldbekindenoughtoteachthestudentsanddon'tcreatefearin themindsofthestudentsonstudies.
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