A comparative study on the dropout problem in primary schooling among Muslim community in relation to parental education

Dropout is a big hindrance in converting human child into a resource. Out of the total enrolment in class I, in our country only 5.7% reaches up to class XI! Dropout rate is drastically high at 10–14 years of age. The main causes are lack of educational awareness, poverty and child labour. Dropout rate is high in West Bengal – particularly in the Muslim minority dominated Malda district. So, this study was conducted on 800 samples of parents/guardians from Malda district as per stratified purposive random sampling method, based on educational level, gender and economic condition. Parental attitude towards primary schooling was measured by a self-made Likert type three point attitude scale. Collected data were analysed through descriptive as well as inferential statistics like ANOVA, ‘t’ test. The study revealed a significant difference at 0.05 level in attitude between the illiterate and higher educated parents/guardians towards primary schooling of their wards. Same result was observed between the primary educated and higher educated parents/guardians, and also between the secondary educated and higher educated parents/guardians. So, parental education helps in forming favourable attitude in lowering down the rate of dropout in primary schooling.