Indian Journal of Science and Technology

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of Right to Education Act and the implementation of government educational Schemes is to reduce school dropouts at grass root level. The following study sponsored by ICSSR is an attempt to explore the factors affecting school dropouts in Pune district in India. Methods/Statistical Analysis: This study carries forward the data and information collected through structured questionnaire and discussions from the parents of school dropouts. The general information of associated reasons/factors was analyzed especially of government schools and private-aided school dropouts. Stratified Random Sampling method was carried out from the list of schools Taluka-wise available with Zilla Parishad. Sample size consisted of 168 parents. The data analysis was prepared using descriptive statistics and chi-square test. Findings: The survey highlights parents of school dropouts are aware of governmental educational schemes. However, to a larger extent, individual and family reasons especially the lack of encouragement/casualness from the parents and financial problems seemed to play a dominant role for school dropouts in Pune district. It is also observed mentoring is received by the dropouts from school authorities to continue studies, but the depth and importance of it still needs to be acknowledged in full swing. The findings corroborates with rest of the available studies. The study will assist policy makers, to certain extent, in identifying the causes for school dropouts and help in formulating prevention strategies at grass-root level. Improvements: Further this study could be enhanced by broadly discussing the other facets viz. status of implemented government programs, role of community, enrollment, etc. in the selected schools and other schools of the district. It can be extended to any other region to contain the school dropouts especially when migration of parents from rural to urban and also from one country to another becomes inevitable.

Keywords: Factors Affecting School Dropouts, Government Educational Schemes, Parental Opinion, Pune District, Right to Education, School Dropouts