Abstract:
The present study is about the nature of participation of learners in elementary
education in municipal schools. The study focuses on the learners who have continued in
the same school from Classes I to VIII. The learners in municipal schools are facilitated
by the various government initiatives to provide them aid to their continuation in
schooling. There are several aspects which individually or in combination might have
influenced the learners’ participation in elementary education. Thus, it becomes
necessary to gain an understanding of learners, their background, the school where the
learners study, the broader framework of government initiatives as to know how different
stakeholders – learners, schools and parents in Surendranagar city have participated in
elementary education of learners. The present study identified all the 22 municipal
elementary schools of Surendranagar city, 490 learners who had completed eight years of
elementary education continuously in the 22 municipal elementary schools of
Surendranagar, 63 teachers of these schools who had taught these learners during the
eight years, 22 principals of these elementary schools and 35 parents of these learners as
sample. The data have been collected through the school documents, observation by
investigator and also by interacting with different stakeholders. In order to discern the
nature of participation of learners, the data of background of learners and school profile
were collated and attempt has been made to arrive at a composite view and is presented at
appropriate places. These made it possible to identify different combinations of factors
that emerge revealing a co existence of particular aspects in case of learners’ participation
in elementary education. The findings of the present study revealed that low education
and economic background of family and high aspiration of learners and parents made
learners to continue in the school where the learners received the facilities in the school
which they did not have at home. Schools created enabling environment and learners get
attention of teachers which attracted learners and made them to participate in schooling.
Description:
A Thesis submitted to Navrachana University Vadodara for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Education: Guide: Prof. T.K.S. Lakshm, Researcher: Ms. Kripali Jadeja, School of Liberal Studies and Education, Navrachana University, Vadodara, October 2020