According to the Census 2001, 68.1 million people are living in urban slums in India where education is a fundamental right. The slum dwellers as the consumers of
Government schools are not only economically but also socially deprived. However it seems that the Government has neglected the most important stakeholders, parents as the consumers of the Government schools.
Brahmin priests
Kshatriya warriors
Vaishya traders, merchants
Shudra workers
Dalit
‘Untouchable’, ‘Outcaste’
Caste based social hierarchy, India
W hat are the perceptions of parents from the lower strata of society about the education that their children receive?
D oes gender difference make any changes in the value of education as perceived by parents? What is the relationship between children’s gender and willingness of parents to pay for their education?
D o the educational professionals take into account the perceptions of the marginalized parents about education?
- 39 Parents (more emphasis on mothers) whose children are studying in Primary & Secondary Government Schools
- 7 Educational professionals (Principals of Primary &
Government Schools and Primary Teaching Colleges)
Improve understanding of the policy makers to include & consult parents for the policies related to the
Government schools in India
Bridge the research gap in education in the deprived urban areas
!
parents
Mansi with slum dwellers in Surat
Dissatisfaction with Government schools
Education to make better human being
Emphasis on English and Computer
Excluded in Parent Teacher Meetings
Stress on girl child’s education
D.M.Nareshkumar@warwick.ac.uk
D.M.Nareshkumar@warwick.ac.uk
Primary School girl and her mother in their residence in a slum, Surat
“ What do you think? These people do not have money to eat or to wear clothes. What would they know about education? Why do you want to ask their opinion? ”
- HOD, Dept. of Education,
Veer Narmad South Gujarat University
“ This is the first time someone is asking about our opinion. We want to say something. But nobody asks us.
Nobody listens. It has been years but nobody never care to ask what we really think. ”
- Father of a Secondary School boy
educational professionals
Computer class in a Government School, Surat
Caste based discrimination
Increased awareness among parents for education
No idea about the parents’ expectations
Parents’ should be consulted and included while making educational policies for Government schools