Educational Status of Scheduled Castes: Attainment and Challenges

Book Details:

• Author: Ghanshyam Shah, K. Sujatha and Sukhadeo Thorat

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Language: English

• Edition: 2020

• ISBN: 9788131611456

• Pages: 364

• Cover: Hardcover

• Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.5 x 1.6 inches

About the Book:
This comprehensive volume presents the findings of a large-scale national survey commissioned by ICSSR on the educational status of Scheduled Castes (SCs) in India. Covering 98 districts across 22 states, the study incorporates responses from over 23,000 SC households and more than 9,000 non-SC households, as well as students at various educational levels—from upper primary to college—in both government and private institutions.

The research explores three key dimensions:

1. The socio-economic and cultural background of SC students that affect access to education.

2. The institutional environment, including teacher attitudes, peer interaction, and the learning process.

3. Student performance, educational aspirations, and potential experiences of discrimination.

Key issues addressed include:

• Quality of infrastructure and teaching resources in schools and colleges.

• Perceptions of caste-based behavior and bias in educational settings.

• Cultural and familial influences on educational engagement.

• Aspirations and challenges faced by SC students at different academic stages.

This book serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, educationalists, social activists, and researchers in sociology, anthropology, development studies, and policy sciences. It delivers critical insights that can inform inclusive and equitable educational strategies in India.

Contents:

1. Introduction

2. Background: Caste and Family

3. Upper Primary Students

4. Secondary and Higher Secondary Students

5. College Students

6. Conclusions

About the Authors:
Ghanshyam Shah is an independent researcher and former Professor at JNU, New Delhi. He also served as Director of the Centre for Social Studies, Surat.
K. Sujatha is the former Head of the Department of Educational Administration at NIEPA, New Delhi.
Sukhadeo Thorat is Professor Emeritus at JNU, former Chairman of UGC and ICSSR, and Chairperson of the Indian Institute of Dalit Studies.