TRIBAL EDUCATION IN INDIA: SOCIO-CULTURAL, INSTITUTIONAL AND ECONOMICAL CONSTRAINTS

Saroj Sahu, Partha Sarathi Mallik, Sadhujan Bankira, Dipanjali Sahu, Suruchi Sahoo

Abstract


Tribal education is one of the most emerging policy issues throughout India. It has been documented that the dropout rate of tribal children is 24% and their poor academic performance is a key concern. Despite various government initiatives aimed at improving and uplifting tribal education and living conditions, such as mid-day meals, school uniforms and scholarships, the dropout rate continues to rise. These measures, though well-intended, have not fully resolved the underlying issues, which include insufficient infrastructure, lack of parental involvement and curriculum that may not be culturally sensitive to tribal children. The present results highlighted that multiplicity of factors, including lack of access to quality schools, poverty, parental involvement, gender stereotypes and language barriers, have a detrimental effect on rates of enrolment and retention among the Scheduled tribes. The paper has concluded with some possible suggestions. This study would be useful both for academic research and for the policy makers to restructure and organized the curriculum.

 

Article visualizations:

Hit counter


Keywords


tribal education, social exclusion, first generation learner, gender stereotypes

Full Text:

PDF

References


Abuya, B.A., Onsomu, E.O., and Moore, D. (2014). Determinants of educational exclusion: poor urban girls’ experiences in and out-of-school in Kenya. Prospects 44, 381-394. Retrieved from https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000260576

Ambily, P. (2023). Access to Education, Transition and Learning of Tribal Students in Kerala: A Human Rights Perspective, CMR University Journal for Contemporary Legal Affairs, 5(1). Retrieved from https://www.cmr.edu.in/school-of-legal-studies/journal/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Dr.-Ambily.-P-.pdf

Azad, Z.L. (2007). “Education of Schedule Castes/ Scheduled Tribes and Minorities”, in Sixth Survey of Educational Research (1993-2000) Vol. II. New Delhi: National Council of Educational Research and Training, pp. 377-411. Retrieved from https://osre.ncert.gov.in/images/survey/Sixth_Survey/vol2ch4_s6.pdf

Bagai, S. and Nundy, N. (2009). Tribal Education: a Fine balance, Dasra, Mumbai. Retrieved from https://jarom.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/dasra-reports-tribal-education-a-fine-balance.pdf

Bhagavathees Waran L. et al. (2016). The barriers and enablers to education among scheduled caste and scheduled tribe adolescent girls in northern Karnataka, south India: a qualitative study. International Journal of Educational Development 49, 262- 270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2016.04.004

Census, Government of India, 2011. Retrieved from https://www.census2011.co.in/

Dash, J. (1999). “Trends and Problems of Higher Education of Scheduled Tribes in Odisha”. Unpublished D.Litt. Thesis in Education, Bhubaneswar: Utkal University. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2023.v05i04.4923

Gouda, S., & T.V., Sekhar. (2014). Factors Leading to School Dropouts in India: An Analysis of National Family Health Survey-3 Data. IOSR Journal of Research & Method in Education (IOSR-JRME), 75-83. http://dx.doi.org/10.9790/7388-04637583

Gautam, V. (2003). “Education of Tribal Children in India and the Issue of Medium of Instruction: A Janshala Experience.” UN/ Government Janshala Programme. New Delhi. Retrieved from https://jarom.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/education-of-tribal-children-in-india-a-janshala-experience.pdf

Government of Odisha, Directorate of Economics and Statistics (2016). Odisha Economic Survey 2015-16. Bhubaneswar: Directorate of Economics and Statistics.

Government of Odisha, Tribal Welfare Department (1994). Tribal Education in Orissa in the Context of Education for All by 2000 A.D. A Status Paper. Bhubaneswar: Tribal Welfare Department.

Mishra, B.I. (2011). Breaking the barriers: constraints on the way to higher education for tribal girls. Soc. Sci. Int. 27, 319–325. Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/openview/93ad25d3dca7fa4ab5491e03772fed49/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=506333

Mishra, P.K. (1994). Study of Dropout in Schools of Keonjhar District, Odisha with Special Reference to Scheduled Tribes (Mimeographed). Bhubaneswar: NKC Centre of Development Studies. Retrieved from https://www.allresearchjournal.com/archives/2017/vol3issue4/PartH/3-4-114-367.pdf

Mishra, S.K., Samal, A.K. and Rath, B. (2006). Tribal Development in India. Talcher: Talcher College. Retrieved from https://www.scribd.com/document/457495951/Govind-Chandra-Rath-Tribal-development-in-india-The-contemporary-debate

Mohanty, R.P. and Biswal, D.N. (2009). Primary Education in Tribal India. Retrieved from https://www.abebooks.com/9788183242806/Elementary-Education-Tribal-India-Mohanty-8183242804/plp

Mohanty, S.C. (2010). Study of Dropouts among Tribal Children, ADIVASI, Vol. 90, Nos. 1 & 2, pp 1-149.

Nambissan G.B. (2009). Exclusion and discrimination in schools: Experiences of Dalit children. Indian Institute of Dalit Studies and UNICEF. Retrieved from https://search.worldcat.org/title/exclusion-and-discrimination-in-schools-experiences-of-dalit-children/oclc/505927379

National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA). (2016). School Education in India: Flash Statistics 2015-16. Government of India. Retrieved from https://educationforallinindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/School-Education-in-India-Flash-Statistics-2017-18-NIEPA.pdf

Ota, A.B. (2002). “An overview of Scheduled Tribes in Orissa”, in Orissa Development Report 2002. New Delhi: Government of India. Retrieved from https://repository.tribal.gov.in/bitstream/123456789/73776/1/SCST_2018_book_0016.pdf

Ota, A.B., Mall, A., and Das, R.K. (2010). “A Diagnostic Study of Law Performing Schools of ST and SC Development Department”, ADIVASI, Vol. 50, No. 142, pp 1-149. Retrieved from https://repository.tribal.gov.in/bitstream/123456789/75255/1/SCST_2021_book_0493.pdf

Ota, A.B. and Mohanty, B.N. (2009). Analysis of Scheduled Tribe Population in Orissa (1961-2001). Bhubaneswar: Schedule Castes and Scheduled Tribe Training Institute.

Padhi, S., K. (2014). Elementary Education of Tribal Children in Government and Private Schools-Question of Accessibility, Affordability and Acceptability. In Dhananjay Lokhande and Puvvada Viswanadha Gupta (Eds.), Perspectives of Tribal Education. New Delhi: Discovery Publishing House Pvt. Ltd. pp. 147-160. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279059362_Perspectives_of_Tribal_Education

Pradhan, J., & Subramanian, L. (2021). School Infrastructure and the Learning Environment: Evidence from India. Journal of Educational Planning and Administration, 35(2), 157-176.

Pradhan, N. and J.K. Pattanaik (2011). Challenges in Education of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Children: Case Study of an Ashram School, The Ravenshaw Journal of Educational Studies, vol. 1, issue 1. December, 2012, Department of Education, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, Odisha. Retrieved from https://www.academia.edu/4393067/Challenges_in_Education_of_Scheduled_Caste_and_Scheduled_Tribe_Children_Case_Study_of_an_Ashram_School

Rout, P.C. (1989). Tribal Education in Odisha. Bhubaneswar, S.K Rout Publication.

Rupavath, R. (2016). Access to Education: Education Status of Scheduled Tribes in Andhra Pradesh: Attainments and Challenges. Review of Public Administration and Management, 4, 183. Retrieved from https://www.academia.edu/86735899/Access_to_Education_Education_Status_of_Scheduled_Tribes_in_Andhra_Pradesh_Attainments_and_Challenges

Sarangi., C. (2009). The effect of psychosocial and institutional variables on school dropouts in the age group of 6-14 years with special reference to tribal children of The Educational Status of Tribes in Burdhawan: A Study Kasturi Dey, International Journal of Humanities & Social Science Studies (IJHSSS) 9(3) Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10603/69834

Singh, L.K., and Banerjee, S. (2019). A Study of Parental Involvement among Tribal Students with Reference to Anuppur District of Madhya Pradesh. i-manager’s Journal on Educational Psychology, 12(4), 26-32. https://doi.org/10.26634/jpsy.12.4.15668

Sujatha, K. (2002). Education among Scheduled Tribes. In Govinda, R. (ed.), India Education Report: A Profile of Basic Education. New Delhi: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from https://www.academia.edu/download/5394 5926/analysis_Tribals.pdf

Swain, B.C. (2006) “Education of Scheduled Tribe Children in Orissa” in Tribal Development in India ed. Mishra S. et al. Talcher: Talcher College, pp. 76-80.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/readersblog/layman-academic/analysing-the-emrs-policy-by-the-government-of-india-for-tribal-literacy-and-empowerment-52362/

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/challenges-hinder-tribal-childrens-education/article69649655.ece

Valesamy, V.R. (2021). A Contemporary Overview about Status and Challenging Issues of Tribal Education in India, June 01. Retrieved from https://ijae.journal-asia.education/index.php/data/article/view/96

Vinu (2021). Tribal education and quality of life: issues & challenges. International Journal of Indian Psychology, 9(1), 603-610. DIP:18.01.060/20210901, DOI:10.25215/0901.060.

Vijayalakshmi, G. (2004). Problems of secondary school tribal children. Edutracks, Hyderabad: Neelkamal Publications.




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v12i8.6120

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2025 Saroj Sahu, Partha Sarathi Mallik, Sadhujan Bankira, Dipanjali Sahu, Suruchi Sahoo

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Copyright © 2015-2026. European Journal of Education Studies (ISSN 2501 - 1111) is a registered trademark of Open Access Publishing Group. All rights reserved.


This journal is a serial publication uniquely identified by an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) serial number certificate issued by Romanian National Library (Biblioteca Nationala a Romaniei). All the research works are uniquely identified by a CrossRef DOI digital object identifier supplied by indexing and repository platforms. All authors who send their manuscripts to this journal and whose articles are published on this journal retain full copyright of their articles. All the research works published on this journal are meeting the Open Access Publishing requirements and can be freely accessed, shared, modified, distributed and used in educational, commercial and non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).