Expectations of slum school drop-out children and their parents about the selected aspects of schools

A stratified random sample of 200 school dropout children in the age range of 8–15 yrs (100 of low Socio-Economic Status and 100 of middle Socio-Economic Status) were selected from slum colonies of Parbhani (Maharashtra State) The information pertaining to the study was collected through personal interview with these children and their parents based on open ended questionnaire. The results reveal that majority of the school drop outs belonged to the nuclear type and middle size families and had non literate parents. All the sample school dropouts and their parents preferred the location of the school to be easily approachable to children and their parents. The essential facilities like furniture, safe drinking water and sanitary facilities in the schools were expected by majority of the school drop outs and their parents. Further it was also found that many of the school drop outs and their parent were not particular about the qualification, experience and age of the school staff while it was vice versa in case of personality traits of the teachers. Most of the children and their parents from low SES group were particular about the gender of the teachers i.e. preference was given for the female teachers whereas the gender of the staff was not mentioned by majority of the children and their parents of middle SES group. Above ninety and 21 per cent parents from low and middle SES group did not want their children to continue the education.