International Journal of Farm Sciences 2(1) :141-144, 2012

Factors influencing school dropouts at the primary level

SNIGDHA RANI BARUAH and UTPALA GOSWAMI*

KVK, ICAR (RC) for NEH Region, Umiam 793103 Meghalaya

*College of Home Science, AAU, Jorhat, Assam
E-mail for correspondence: snigdhashl@rediffmail.com

ABSTRACT

The study investigates the factors influencing the school dropouts at the primary level in Jorhat district
of Assam, India based on the responses of 120 dropouts selected through random sampling. The major
factors influencing school dropouts were found to be household work, lack of parental guidance in
studies, large family size, poor economic condition of the family, failure in examination, lack of time
for study, punishment by teachers, lack of interest in studies, etc.

Keywords: Dropouts; economic condition; school; examination

INTRODUCTION which the general productivity of the

population is raised leading to better
Education is a principal instrument standard of living. The quality of life in terms
in awakening the child to cultural values, in of good health, general personality growth
preparing him for later professional training and better social living is also closely
and in helping him to adjust normally to his associated with the educational status of an
environment (Pandya and Bora 1997). It is individual. Education is the process of
the catalytic factor which leads to human bringing out the potentialities of an individual
resource development comprising better and unfolds the natural abilities ad interests
health and nutrition, improved socio- before the society. It is thus the basic right
economic opportunities and more congenial of every human being and the government
and beneficial natural environment for all should to provide the same (Harichandran
(Chauhan 1997). Education is the means 1992).
through which a society perpetuates and
spreads its own culture. It is indispensable METHODOLOGY
for understanding social problems and
coping with social stresses and changes. It The study was conducted in Jorhat
is also considered to be a means through district of Assam. A sample of 120 children
 Baruah and Goswami

who had dropped school at primary level among a considerable percentage

was drawn for the study. For collection of (82.50%) of the respondents. This is
the required data the tool used was an indicative of the fact that in order to support
interview schedule which was prepared and help the parents to keep up the economy
specially for the purpose. As per the and daily routine of the household the
direction of the leader of each area door- children were compelled to leave school at
to-door visit was made to collect data of an early age (Pandya and Bora 1997). Poor
the school dropouts. The collected data economic condition was found to be a
were coded and the per cent values of each dominant reason reported by a majority
response were then calculated. (80.83%) of the respondents. Some of the
reasons identified were non-availability of
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION educational aids like books, uniforms and
delayed payment of fees. These results
Results (Table 1) indicate that the corroborate to a great extent the results
most reported reason for dropping out of obtained by Bhat and Yasmeen (1994).
school was due to household work Panda et al (1992) reported economic
(88.33%). This observation is in conformity backwardness of the family as one of the
with the results obtained in a study main reasons for dropping out among a
conducted by NIEPA in 1987 in which it considerable portion of the respondents
was found that more than 50 per cent and (79.17%). Failure in examination was
in some states even two-thirds or more reported by Panda et al (1992) as one of
students discontinued their studies because the main reasons for dropping out of school.
of household work. Lack of parental Parents engage their children in their work
guidance was another reason reported by to supplement family labour rather than
a major part of the respondents (86.66%). allowing them to attend classes for 4-5 hours
A majority of the respondents’ parents were a day. Therefore poverty-ridden parents pull
from the educational status that might have out their children form schools on their first
resulted in the parents’ inability to guide their failure in a class. Thus the combination of
children properly. Bhat and Yasmeen (1994) poverty of parents and poor performance
reported that many of the dropouts had not of children act as great stumbling blocks in
got the much desired guidance at home in the implementation of the strategies of
studies and in certain cases the parents were retaining children in schools up to a certain
somewhat hostile to the very idea of level (Zaidi 1991). Lack of time for study
schooling which contributed to students’ was reported to be another reason for
poor performance in schools and finally discontinuation of school among a
leading to dropout. A large family was found considerable part of the respondents
to be another reason for dropping out (67.50%). Most of the respondents had to

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 School dropouts at primary level

do the household work which resulted in dropping out of school was reported by
lack of time for their studies. Lack of Pandya and Bora (1997). Lack of parental
interest in studies was found to be a reason interest in continuation of studies was also
for dropping out of the schools among the given as a reason for dropping out of school
respondents (53.33%). This can be by the respondents. Pandya and Bora
supported by the study conducted by (1997) reported lack of parental interest in
Visaria et al (1993) in which they found that continuation of studies as a contributing
lack of interest in education was an factor for dropping out. Another percentage
important reason for discontinuation of (40%) of the respondents gave disliking for
schooling. Lack of interest in studies was teachers as a reason for discontinuing
also reported as one of the reasons for school. This may be associated with the
dropping out by Panda et al (1992) and punishment inflicted by the teachers. The
Pratinidhi et al (1992) also reported lack traumatic experiences might have made the
of interest in studies as one of the reasons child disliking the teachers and studies in
for dropping out. Some of the respondents general. Ill health of self was reported as a
(53.33%) gave punishment by teachers as reason for dropping out by the respondents.
a reason for dropping out of school. The The family’s poverty might have resulted in
respondents reported that due to fear of the poor nutritional intake of the children,
punishment they dropped out of school. which limited their physical and mental
Punishment by teachers as a reason for growth and rendered them incapable of

Table 1. Reasons expressed by respondents for school dropouts at the primary level

Reasons No of respondents Percentage

Household work 106 88.33

Lack of parental guidance in studies 104 86.66
Large family size 99 82.50
Poor economic condition 97 80.83
Failure in examination 95 79.16
Lack of time for study 81 67.50
Punishment by teachers 64 53.33
Lack of interest in studies by the drop-out 64 53.33
Lack of parental interest in continuation of studies 53 44.16
Disliking for teachers 48 40.00
Ill health of self 22 18.33
Illiteracy of parents 16 13.33

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 Baruah and Goswami

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students from the schools in this study.

Received : 12.10.2011 Accepted : 28.1.2012

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