Exploring the dropout process
Pankaj Das · 2025
This chapter delves into the unique approach of understanding and analysing the decisions made by girls to drop out of school. The study captures the lived experiences of a group of girls through selected case studies conducted via interviews with these dropout girls. The narratives of these girls are of utmost importance as they provide unique and personal insight into why they are leaving their school, engaging the readers with their stories. While interviewing the girls and drawing out their lived experiences, they were asked to describe the events leading to the pivotal moments when they left their school. The present narratives of the selected case studies in this chapter explore the reasons the girls gave for their school leaving and highlight two key issues. First, how did they decide about the incidence of leaving their school? Second, how did they negotiate and compromise their educational aspirations and goals after leaving the school by reflecting on and describing their present situations? Analysis of the case studies detailed in this chapter reveals that forced withdrawal of the girl child from school is predominated by circumstances that the family, educational institution or individual circumstances engender.