Stakeholder Perceptions of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Effectiveness in Increasing School Enrollment in India
Open Access
- Author:
- Vayaliparampil, Mary Chandy
- Graduate Program:
- Educational Theory and Policy
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- September 27, 2012
- Committee Members:
- Ladislaus M Semali, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor
David P Baker, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
Madhu Suri Prakash, Committee Member
Jamie Myers, Special Member - Keywords:
- Education for All
India
school enrollment
stakeholder perceptions
multiple case study - Abstract:
- This study examines how diverse stakeholders involved with school enrollments perceive the effectiveness of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in increasing school enrollment in India. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan is the Indian Government’s flagship program for achieving universal school enrollment. Eight specific interventions within the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan that target disadvantaged population subgroups were considered. These interventions include the Midday Meal, Stipend for Girls, School Sanitation and Hygiene Education, Madrassa Modernization, Civil Works, Village Education Committee, Residential Hostel for Girls and School Supplies. The disadvantaged subgroups in the general population include Muslims, scheduled castes (SC), scheduled tribes (ST) and girls. Stakeholders under consideration are the state government, international non-governmental organizations, local non-governmental organizations, teachers and parents. A multiple case study design was adopted to conduct the research. The data methods used to collect data for the study includes photovoice and semi-structured interviews. A phenomenological approach was employed to analyze data. The primary findings of the study are: 1) all the stakeholders attribute the increase in primary school net enrollment ratios from 73.99% in 2003-04 to 98.59% in 2008-2009 and in secondary school net enrollment ratios from 43.14% in 2005-06 to 56.22% in 2008-09 almost entirely to the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. Some interventions such as the Midday Meal were perceived to be more effective than others in increasing school enrollment, 2) the stakeholders perceived that the difficulties in implementing the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan were the misappropriation of funds, misuse of school facilities and the insufficiency of personnel, and 3) the stakeholders perceive the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan to be inadequate in addressing secondary school enrollment challenges of loss of income, poor quality of schooling and the safety of girls. The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan did not compensate for the loss of income, did not provide good quality schooling comparable to that of private schools and did not enhance the safety or guarantee the purity of girl children when enrolled in school.