Study on ‘reasons of
dropping out from schools’
A study with children who dropped out from Mother Project of Tomorrow’s Foundation
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Study on ‘reasons of dropping out from schools’
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Study on ‘reasons of dropping out from schools’
80.8% of the children who dropped out Mothers expressed that children are falling
due to economic reasons said they left in love at a very young age and getting
schools to work and supplement family married. The mothers also expressed that
income. environment in the school should also be
improved to achieve better retention rate.
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Study on ‘reasons of dropping out from schools’
Focus Group Discussion: Two focus Data Collation: Data collected from
group discussions (FDGs) were held with in questionnaire was entered in spreadsheet
two different slum locations with 40 and analyzed according to the objectives of
mothers. Most of the mothers had children the study. Notes and photographs were
who dropped out from schools. Ranking taken during FGD.
method of PRA (Participatory Rural
Appraisal) was adopted to collect data
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Study on ‘reasons of dropping out from schools’
Like year wise distribution of respondents, Kalighat and Tollyganj had more than half
for obvious reasons, maximum number of of the respondents. Mother Project children
respondents (36.2%) was contacted from come from 7 areas, except Hazra area
Kalighat area. The Mother Project is dropped out children were contacted for
located in Kalighat and most of the this study from other 6 locations. Despite
children of this project belong to this area. prevailing perception of many children
dropping out from Lockgate area, only 4
Tollyganj is the nearest area and 23% respondents from this area could be
respondents were from there. So, together contacted.
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Study on ‘reasons of dropping out from schools’
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Study on ‘reasons of dropping out from schools’
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Study on ‘reasons of dropping out from schools’
were high but they too did not ask any Only 1 respondent said he opted for
help from TF to support them with working than studying due to reasons
admission fees. other than supplementing family income.
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Study on ‘reasons of dropping out from schools’
Relocation/migration:
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Study on ‘reasons of dropping out from schools’
One of the assumptions of this study was that of relative importance) and 9 as 3 (3rd
dropping out from school happens due to a in the order of relative importance).
combination of reasons. There could be a main
reason for dropping out for a child but along These responses were given weightage as
with the main reason there must be other per the following formula:
reasons influencing the main reason.
Reason 1/ Reason 4 = (%age of
To explore the above mentioned phenomenon, respondents who choose reason 1 as the
the questionnaire was designed as per the main reason + %age of respondents who
following logic: ranked reason 4 as 1 + + %age of
respondents who ranked reason 4 as 2 +
I. There are 9 main factors identified as + %age of respondents who ranked reason
reasons for dropping out. 4 as 3 + %age of respondents who ranked
II. Each respondent selected one reason. reason 4 as 4 + %age of respondents who
III. Then the respondent said whether the ranked reason 4 as 5 + %age of
reason selected by her/him is the respondents who ranked reason 4 as 6 +
main reason. %age of respondents who ranked reason 4
IV. If they said yes (under III) then they as 7 + %age of respondents who ranked
are supposed say what were the other reason 4 as 8 + %age of respondents who
reasons (8 or less) and rank those ranked reason 4 as 9)
reasons as per relative importance.
V. They did the same if the said no Accordingly the matrix on ‘relative
(under III) importance and interrelations of different
VI. In both the cases the respondents reasons for dropping out from school’ was
ranked the other reasons as per the prepared.
relative importance of those reasons
to them. The following table shows not only the
VII. So, the respondents choose 1 main relative importance of different reasons for
reason, then choose few other related dropping out but their interconnections
reasons and ranked the relative too.
importance of the reasons.
VIII. For example, one respondent Ramesh While ranking, many respondents choose
choose reason 5 as main reason then ‘other reasons’ and ranked those reasons.
choose 3, 6 and 9. He then ranks 3 as It is suggested that the following matrix
2 (2nd in the order of relative should be reviewed on the basis of the
importance), 6 as 1 (1st in the order main 8 reasons.
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Study on ‘reasons of dropping out from schools’
Educati
Distanc Econom Family School onal Lack of
e to ic problem Environ Problem Marriag Migratio interest
school reasons s ment s e n s Others
Distanc
e to
school 6.0 44.4 61.1 26.0 27.4 13.2 11.3 63.0 51.6
Economi
c
reasons 28.9 67.3 84.0 48.9 50.3 36.1 34.2 85.9 74.5
Family
problem
s 17.4 55.8 72.5 37.4 38.8 24.6 22.7 74.4 63.0
School
Environ
ment 25.1 63.5 80.2 45.1 46.5 32.3 30.4 82.1 70.7
Educati
onal
Problem
s 20.3 58.7 75.4 40.3 41.7 27.5 25.6 77.3 65.9
Marriag
e 18.4 56.8 73.5 38.4 39.8 25.6 23.7 75.4 64.0
Migratio
n 6.0 44.4 61.1 26.0 27.4 13.2 11.3 63.0 51.6
Lack of
interest
s 7.9 46.3 63.0 27.9 29.3 15.1 13.2 64.9 53.5
Others 7.0 45.4 62.1 27.0 28.4 14.2 12.3 64.0 52.6
The data above was put in a bubble diagram to understand the same ‘relative importance and
their interrelationships’:
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Study on ‘reasons of dropping out from schools’
Note: EP = educational problems, ER = economic problems, FP = family related problems, LOI = lack of interest and SE
= school environment.
The above bubble diagram shows lack of interest, family problems and economic reasons are
strongly related with each other.
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Study on ‘reasons of dropping out from schools’
Two focus groups were conducted with the The mothers then wrote the reasons (in Bengali)
mothers - one at Kalighat slum area and on floor of the meeting place. Then they were
another at Chetla slum area. The mothers were asked to rank the identified reasons as per their
asked to identify the reasons for which the relative importance for younger children (below
children from the locality drop out from school. 9 years) and older children (above 9 years).
The results of these two FGDs were different. Chetla drug addiction of boys, influence of peer
Mother’s in Kalighat identified low/lack of groups and love/romantic relationships were
income for mothers and family related problems most important problems for the older children
as the most important problems behind and bad influence of family environment,
incidents of dropping out for both older and excessive disciplining by parents and fear of
younger children. Whereas, for mothers in
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Study on ‘reasons of dropping out from schools’
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Study on ‘reasons of dropping out from schools’
Annexure I: Questionnaire
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Study on ‘reasons of dropping out from schools’
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Study on ‘reasons of dropping out from schools’
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Study on ‘reasons of dropping out from schools’
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Study on ‘reasons of dropping out from schools’
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Study on ‘reasons of dropping out from schools’
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Study on ‘reasons of dropping out from schools’
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Study on ‘reasons of dropping out from schools’
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23
Study on ‘reasons of dropping out from schools’
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24
Study on ‘reasons of dropping out from schools’
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25