Formative study to enhance the understanding about reasons for smooth transition among boys and girls to secondary schools National Synthesis report – Vol. 1 Study commissioned by UNICEF India ERU Consultants Private Limited New Delhi February 2017 Version 1, Formative Study Report Research Team Principle Investigators: ∑ Vimala Ramachandran ∑ Niti Saxena Andhra Pradesh: ∑ Kameshwari Jandhyala ∑ Satvika Jandhyala, KHSS Sundar, Pravalika, M Nirupama Reddy, Assam: ∑ Nishi Mehrotra ∑ Gita Bhattacharya (Mahila Samakhya) Bobby Nath, Juri Baruah, Pori Gogoi Jharkhand: ∑ Rajni Patni ∑ Vanita Leah Falco, Smita Gupta (Mahila Samakhya), Navneet and Dhruvajyoti (SEEDS) Gujarat: ∑ Shveta Kalyanwala ∑ Vox Populi Team: Sunetra Deshpande, Priyanka Leuva, Mansi Muliya, Jigna Patel West Bengal (Pratichi India Trust): ∑ Manabi Mazumdar ∑ Sabir Ahmad, Manabesh Sarkar, Mukhlesur Rahaman Gain, Sangram Mukherjee, Joyeeta Dey, Pia Sen, Susmita Bandyopadhyay, Piyali Pal, Subhra Das, Sakila Khatun, Tanmoy Dutta, Sujata Gupta, Abdur Rafique Literature Review ∑ Prerna Goel Chatterjee Sample Selection and secondary data analysis: ∑ Anugula N Reddy Advisory Committee ∑ Suman Bhattacharjea, Deepa Sankar, Claire Noronha, Sunisha Ahuja, Shobhita Rajagopal and Sangeeta Dey Institutional Ethics Committee ∑ Leela Visaria, Ravi Duggal, Kanchan Mathur and Anuradha De ERU Consultants Private Limited 2 Version 1, Formative Study Report Table of Contents Research Team................................................................................................................ 2 Table of Contents............................................................................................................ 3 Acknowledgement........................................................................................................... 6 Glossary ........................................................................................................................... 7 Executive Summary........................................................................................................ 8 Study sample and methodology............................................................................................. 8 Learning from secondary literature review.......................................................................... 8 Key findings............................................................................................................................. 9 Summing up........................................................................................................................... 12 Some suggestions to take forward ....................................................................................... 12 Chapter 1: Objectives, methodology and sample selection ...................................... 14 Objectives of the research study.......................................................................................... 14 Methodology.......................................................................................................................... 14 Criteria used for sample selection ....................................................................................... 16 Indicators used for district ranking..................................................................................... 16 Districts selected in five states............................................................................................ 17 Criteria for selection of sample Blocks .............................................................................. 17 Criteria for selection of schools.......................................................................................... 18 Chapter 2: Literature Review ..................................................................................... 20 Introduction and background.............................................................................................. 20 Accessibility........................................................................................................................... 23 Socio-economic and household factors................................................................................ 27 School related issues ............................................................................................................. 30 Children with Special Needs ................................................................................................ 34 Factors enabling transition and completion of secondary school education ................... 34 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 35 Chapter 3: The State Context...................................................................................... 37 State-specific contexts that frame education ...................................................................... 42 Andhra Pradesh .................................................................................................................. 42 Assam ................................................................................................................................. 43 Jharkhand............................................................................................................................ 45 Gujarat................................................................................................................................ 46 ERU Consultants Private Limited 3 Version 1, Formative Study Report West Bengal........................................................................................................................ 47 Poverty and school completion ............................................................................................ 49 Why do children drop out?.................................................................................................. 50 Chapter 4: Drivers for transition at elementary and secondary levels of education ........................................................................................................................................ 53 Overarching findings............................................................................................................ 53 Positive / facilitating factors............................................................................................... 53 Impeding factors................................................................................................................. 54 Voices of Children in-school: Positive Triggers ................................................................. 55 Children’s aspiration and self motivation to study............................................................. 57 Role of parents and family ................................................................................................. 58 The returns to education ..................................................................................................... 58 Quality of school, teaching and teachers............................................................................ 59 School, infrastructure and incentives.................................................................................. 59 Economic situation at home ............................................................................................... 60 Voices of children in school: Negative Factors................................................................... 60 Economic constraints.......................................................................................................... 62 Child work.......................................................................................................................... 62 Disinterest of children in studies ........................................................................................ 63 Social Environment (norms and practices)......................................................................... 63 Parental Attitude and Family Environment ........................................................................ 64 Quality of school, teaching and teachers............................................................................ 64 School, infrastructure and incentives.................................................................................. 65 Corporal punishment .......................................................................................................... 65 Voices of Out of School Children (OOSC) ......................................................................... 65 Factors impacting transition positively............................................................................... 66 Factors that led to children dropping out of school ............................................................ 67 Parents’ views on drivers for transitions............................................................................ 68 Positive and Negative Factors: Teacher and Head Masters ............................................. 70 Concluding observations ...................................................................................................... 72 Chapter 5: Towards a Successful Transition – The Way Forward ......................... 75 Parental support ................................................................................................................... 76 Financial situation at home.................................................................................................