Education and the voices of the unheard why

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why

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

research questions

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?

how

46 Qualitative Semi Structured Interviews using

Snowball Sampling Method in Surat city of Gujarat, India

- 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)

research contribution

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

Education and the voices of the unheard in the deprived urban areas in India parents’ and professionals’ perceptions of schooling

!

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

Mansi Desai

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

Dr. Michael Wyness

“ 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

perceptions

educational professionals

prelimanary analysis

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

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