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dropout occurred earlier for girls than for boys. This was different from a study from
Maharashtra, that showed that the dropout rate for both girls and boys were s~milar and
gradually increased with age (Nagpure,l992). The early dropout in the wrrent study
wuld be because of the need to help at home and the relatively lower importance given
to a girl's education compared to a boys education. The effect of this perception is felt
before completing the middle level education which means that those who drop out wll
do so before completing middle school The continuat~on of education at the high
school level depended primarily on the interest shown by the child. All parents who
supported a child to enter into high school education apparently gave their support
irrespective of gender, provided they wuld financially afford.
6.5.3 Causes of drop out
In this study, it was observed that among girls, poverty was the most Important cause
for dropout followed by the need to help at home and poor performance. However,
among boys, poor performance was the leading cause fnr dropout followed by poverty.
Though education in government school was free, In that there was no tuit~on fee it has
been reported that many parents were not able to meet the opportunity costs
(UNICEF,1990). The opportunity cost rn this study ( money glven to children as
Incentive to make them go to school at the rate of Rs.0 50 to Rs.1 1- per day for 2 or 3
days in a week) was only Rs.151- per year for primary school and thls could be one of
the reasons for about 80.0% of the children completing primary educat~on However,
the middle and high school level education is not free and the study revealed that the
average cost per annum for middle school education was about Rs. 5001- and for hlgh
school education Rs.754 I-, which may not be affordable by some parents. Poverty
could also result in a child being taken away from school for earning purposes.