Educational Status of Dalits AStudy of Gaunshahar VDC Lamjung

Abstract

he intrinsic human value of education– its ability to add meaning and value to everyone’s liveswithout discrimination is at the core of its status as a human right. But education is also anindispensable means to unlock and protect other human rights as well. Under the country’scircumstances Dalit community is found to be way back in the opportunities of gaining theeducational opportunities. Basing on this fact the study is conducted with the objective of revising theeducational status of Dalits, their regularity to the institutions and the major factors working asbarriers for their education. For the purpose a preliminary visit to the study site was done in order toidentify therepresentative Dalit settlement for study. A total of 195 Dalit houses were identified and40 of those were selected for sampling. The sample was selected from each ward on the weight basis.The first household was selected randomly and after that every fifth household was selected for thestudy. From the study it was found that the population of the households was dominated by economicallyactive people (16-59 years of age) and the land holding of the households was found very pitiable asaverage land holding was about 2.5 ropani with a great majority of them having their food sufficiencyfor less than three months. Having less amount of land, the cattle rearing was also not significant,mostly dominated by the number of goats. In regard of occupation, the majority of people arelaborers, with some noteworthy number involved in abroad work. Over two third of the people werefound living in brick and mud house, with an average family size between six and seven members. Stillabout one third of the houses were devoid of toilet. The literacy percentage was found outstandingly terrific with approximately two third of the peopleliterate but the level of knowledge and awareness is in contrary with the statistical data and the mostof the literates were up to orunder primary level. The main objective of educating the children intheir opinion was to secure the future of the children and over two third were very optimistic towardsgirls’ education where more than half of the women population was found literate. Though most of thechildren were regular, still over one third were found to be irregular to institutions where the weakeconomic condition played a vital role for the reason and only about one third of the children wereequipped with sufficient stationarygoods. A drop out of rate of over one third of children is anothermajor setback, where child’s unwillingness was found to be the major reason for this. Less than onethird of the parents were found to be assisting their children’s education by any means and just aboveone third of the households have taken an adult literacy class which is something to cheer for. Thus from the study it is concluded that though the literacy level of the Dalits of study area is foundquite gleaming statistically, the actual level of knowledge and consciousness is very poor in terms.The prospect towards the education among the Dalit households was found quite encouraging andtheir attitude towards education veryaffirmative. Though most of the members had been admitted toschool at times, they had to leave the studies because of economic problem and other constraints. Thefemale literacy rate is also found to be quite adorable but the level of education in this case also beingmuch poorer. The regularity is also the main concern where poor economic condition played a majorrole. The poor economic condition, lack of awareness among parents, dirty environment among thecommunity etc were found as the main obstacles to restrict their education. The study indicates that it is necessary to create awareness about education and its outcomes incoming future. Educational enhancement among Dalits is essential to change the attitudes and behavior within Dalits and to bring change in the inter-community culture. The prevailing caste-based discrimination is to be mitigated. Special kind of incentive to the children of this community foreducation should be offered and a regular class for ‘adult education’ is required to conduct which will be proved to be a one step push forward for the adult of this community