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

Authors

  • Saroj Sahu Assistant Professor, School of Education, Gangadhar Meher University, Sambalpur, India
  • Partha Sarathi Mallik Professor and Head, School of Education, Gangadhar Meher University, Sambalpur, India
  • Sadhujan Bankira Assistant Professor, School of Education, Gangadhar Meher University, Sambalpur, India
  • Dipanjali Sahu Post-Graduate Teacher, Education, Belpahar Higher Secondary School, Belpahar, Jharsuguda, India
  • Suruchi Sahoo Assistant Professor, School of Education, Gangadhar Meher University, Sambalpur, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v12i8.6120

Keywords:

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

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.

 

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Author Biographies

  • Saroj Sahu, Assistant Professor, School of Education, Gangadhar Meher University, Sambalpur, India

    Dr. Saroj Sahu is working as an Assistant Professor in Education (Contractual) at the School of Education, Gangadhar Meher University, Sambalpur, Odisha. His area of research is Educational Psychology and Educational Research. His ORCID profile is https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5696-4763

  • Partha Sarathi Mallik, Professor and Head, School of Education, Gangadhar Meher University, Sambalpur, India

    Dr. Partha Sarathi Mallik is a Professor of Education and Head of the School of Education at Gangadhar Meher University, Odisha, India. His academic and research interests include instructional designs, educational measurement and evaluation, sociology of education, parenting practice of socio-culturally excluded groups, and examination reformations. For more insights into his academic contributions and research, visit his ORCID profile at https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8311-2125.

  • Sadhujan Bankira, Assistant Professor, School of Education, Gangadhar Meher University, Sambalpur, India

    Sadhujan Bankira is an Assistant Professor of Education at Gangadhar Meher University, Sambalpur, Odisha, India, and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. He completed his M.A. in Education in 2019 and earned his M.Phil. Degree from Gangadhar Meher University in 2022. His research activities include presenting papers at national and international conferences and seminars, and publishing research papers in various national and international journals. His areas of research interest include Educational Psychology, Educational Technology, and Teacher Education. Visit his ORCID profile at https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3988-5400

  • Dipanjali Sahu, Post-Graduate Teacher, Education, Belpahar Higher Secondary School, Belpahar, Jharsuguda, India

    Dr. Dipanjali Sahu is a Post-Graduate Teacher in Education at Belpahar Higher Secondary School, Belpahar, Jharsuguda, India. Her research areas are parenting practice, sociology in education and educational psychology. Her ResearchGate account is  https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Dipanjali-Sahu

  • Suruchi Sahoo, Assistant Professor, School of Education, Gangadhar Meher University, Sambalpur, India

    Suruchi Sahoo is an Assistant Professor in English Pedagogy at the School of Education, Gangadhar Meher University, Sambalpur, Odisha, India. Her research area is school education challenges concerning the English language teaching-learning process, methods and challenges, educational psychology and sociology of education. Her works of academic and research interests are available in her ORCID profile https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8110-2476.

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Published

2025-07-09

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 8 (2025)

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