REASONS FOR NON-ENROLLMENT AND SCHOOL DROP-OUT IN TRADITIONAL RURAL COMMUNITIES OF WEST BENGAL, INDIA

It is a fact in India that although the percentage of literacy is rising but the number of illiterate children in the age group of 6-14 years is also increasing. This may due to school dropout and non-participation of children in primary and elementary level of education especially from the agro-occupational communities. The present study was undertaken in the district of Burdwan, Birbhum and Murshidabad with 180 families and tried to capture the picture of school dropout and non-participation in agro-occupational groups of respondents. It is found from the study that school dropout is higher in agro-occupational groups and the main reasons were the parents' negative attitude towards their children's education. The parents from poor families mainly compare between the direct monetary gains from laboring activity of the children and indirect benefits from investments for children's education. Due to poverty and present scenario of rural labour market due to introduction of MGNRGA, the decision to engage them in laboring activities wins. The authors strongly recommend for arranging campaigns regarding benefits (direct and indirect) from education.