School Dropouts in Rural India: Factors and Consequences

This article discusses the factors responsible for increasing school dropout rates, especially among girls in rural India. It highlights economic, household, school level, and cultural factors that contribute to the problem. The study is limited to gender-based research and lacks primary data. However, it provides an in-depth analysis of the issue and presents a conceptual model that is easy to understand.

Running Head: SCHOOL DROPOUTS IN RURAL INDIA 0
School Dropouts in Rural India
(student name)
11-1-2018

SCHOOL DROPOUTS IN RURAL INDIA 1
Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Discussion and Conclusion..............................................................................................................3
Advantages/Strength of the material or article............................................................................4
Limitations/ weakness of the material or article..........................................................................4
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................6
References........................................................................................................................................7

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Introduction
School dropouts is a major concern in rural India, this is mainly in the case of girls of
rural area. For this discussion, the article taken is “Factors Contributing to School Dropout
among the Girls: A Review of Literature,” by the author S.M. Shahidul and A.H.M. Zehadul
Karim. This paper discussed the factors, which are responsible for increasing children dropouts’
rate, especially among girls. In the paper, a conceptual model was illustrated for dropout of girls
from school (Shahidul & Karim, Factors contributing to school dropout among the girls: a
review of literature, 2015).

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Discussion and Conclusion
This article looks at exhibits that even though numerous inter-related social, financial,
education center and cultural elements influence school dropout as a result, no matter the sex of
the scholars, amongst a few precise factors growth the dropout rate, especially considering a
female. Those specific factors create minor scholastic outcomes for women in common; not even
the primary schooling (education from class 1 to class 8) is possible for girls in rural areas of the
nation (Grant & Cynthia , 2013). The monetary factors compel parents more, in particular,
persons who have lower economic reputation, rather that people with greater reputation or status.
Family with lower socio-economic stability faces problems to endure the fees of their daughters'
education. In addition, family at times consider their children’s gender to determine the child
who will get additional schooling facility that is secondary education, so that kids can provide
an advantage to the parents in the future; in those circumstances, male children subsequently
acquire further precedence as compared to a girl (Susmita & Shovan, 2012).
Moreover, Institute level factors inadequately influence the upsurge in the dropout rate of
females. Nevertheless, the majority of factors are associated with institute assets or resources and
an uneven dissemination of institute resources, significantly related to the geographic site of
institutes (UNICEF, 2006). Institutes in urban areas of India, facilitate additional resources for
females rather than institutes in rural areas. Example for this can be tools of extracurricular
events, hygiene facilities, excellence female educators, and further resources. Environmental
elements are less accessible in rural institutes. Considering this, it was found that rate of girls'
dropout is considerably greater in rural schools rather that urban institutes. Cultural factors also
play a significant role in the great incidence of early dropout of girls, especially for secondary

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schooling (Shahidul, Marriage Market and an Effect on Girls’ School Dropout in Bangladesh ,
2012).
Advantages/Strength of the material or article
 Use of enough secondary data and reliable sources are used for collection of data
 The factors of dropouts are classified properly, like household, economic, cultural, and
school factors in a proper sequence
 In-depth research is another positive aspect of the study, with the clear purpose of the
report
 Conceptual model created is relatively easy to understand. It has been presented in a
graphical form, which is more effective while studying
Figure 1: Conceptual Model of Girls Dropout Rate (Source: (Shahidul & Karim, Factors contributing to school dropout among
the girls: a review of literature, 2015)

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Limitations/ weakness of the material or article
 Primary data is not used, the reliability of the study could have improved, if the primary
method of data collection was also included in the research
 The study is retrained to the factors responsible for dropouts of females. The dropout
rates of boys are also very high in the rural area. Therefore, it can be said that the study is
limited to gender-based research
 The study lacks the research regarding the dropouts in primary and secondary education.
It can also be researched that the dropouts are more for primary education or secondary
education
 The facts and figure are not presented in an effective manner. Use of tables and graph
could be more effective to study and understanding from the paper.
 The material could have included more of the role of government, in reducing the
dropout’s rate in rural areas.
 The effects and causes of the factors were not part of the research, which can influence
dropout rates and its factors significantly
 Recommendations for reducing dropout rates were not described effectively. It must be
related to the factors researched in the article, and the scope of more recommendations
was there in the article.

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Conclusion
Report majorly focuses on article “Factors Contributing to School Dropout among
the Girls: A Review of Literature,” the purpose of this paper was to study the factors that
are responsible for the increase in school dropouts of a female in rural regions. The model
includes economic, household, school level and cultural factors for dropouts. Economic
factors include financial issues, especially in rural area. Due to which some families are
unable to provide primary education to their student, or due to lack of earning members,
children do not get the opportunity to study secondary school. Instead, they start earning
for a living. Household factors are the major reason for girls’ dropout; they are involved
in household work, due to thinking of the family that they have to work in kitchen and
house only, before and after their marriage.
Advantages of material are an in-depth study, good sources are considered, but the study
lack due to limited approach considering gender and not use of primary data.

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References
Grant, M., & Cynthia , B. (2013). Menstruation and school absenteeism: Evidence from rural
Malawi. Comparative Education Review, 260–284.
Shahidul , S., & Karim, A. Z. (2015). Factors contributing to school dropout among the girls: a
review of literature. European Journal of Research and Reflection in Educational
Sciences, 3(2).
Shahidul, S. (2012). Marriage Market and an Effect on Girls’ School Dropout in Bangladesh .
Journal of Alternative Perspectives in the Social Sciences, 252.
Susmita, S., & Shovan, G. (2012). Direct and opportunity costs of schooling a girl child: A case
study of puncha block of purulia District, West bengal, India. International Journal of
Current Research, 376.
UNICEF. (2006). We can do a much better job! The Malawian process to community based
school sanitation. Retrieved from UNICEF: http://www.washinschools.info/page/323.