Prajjwal Yadav1 and Abhimanyu Kumar2
1 PhD Research Scholar, Kumaun University
2Assistant Professor, Government Post Graduate College, Sitarganj, Kumaun University
Abstract
In the recent past, the decline of school enrolment has become the foremost concern in different regions of India, even the expansion of educational facilities and welfare schemes across India proved to be insufficient at multitude levels. The existing study explores the social and institutional factors associated with the problem of declining school enrolment in Udham Singh Nagar District of Uttarakhand. The Study is based on primary fieldwork processed among the 100 households covering 168 school going children within semi-urban and in rural area of the given district using household survey method and semi structured interview. The core analysis of the paper shows that though a valid majority of the children are enrolled in schools but a considerable number of children have dropped out or have never enrolled in school due to institutional or social factors within the society. Economic insecurity, vulnerability, migration, paternal education, poverty and social norms were found to influence schooling related decisions at the household level. On the other hand, institutional concerns and issues such as poor learning outcomes, infrastructure shortage, and distance from residence reduces confidence and believe in government institutions. The research argues that declining enrolment cannot be understood by explaining of single factor but slightly by the combined efforts of social vulnerability and institutional limitations.
Key Words: School Enrolment, Educational exclusion, Udham Singh Nagar, Institutional Factors, Uttarakhand State.
How to Cite: Yadav, P., Kumar, A. (2025). Declining school enrolment: social and institutional factors in Udham Singh Nagar district in Uttarakhand. Anubodhan, 1(4), 28–41. https://doi.org/10.65885/anubodhan.v1n4.2025.028