Assessment of Educational Aspiration in Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Students of Class X

Abstract

India is a country of vast social, cultural, and geographical diversity, with numerous castes, cultures, and languages. However, within this diversity, certain sections of society have been historically deprived socially, economically, and educationally. Two major such groups are the Scheduled Castes (SC) and the Scheduled Tribes (ST). The Indian Constitution has granted special status to these groups under various Articles to promote their social, educational, and economic development. The aim of this study is to assess the level of educational aspiration in scheduled caste and scheduled tribe students of class X. To measure educational aspiration, the Educational Aspiration Inventory developed by Pradeep Kumar (2012) was used. Results reveal that out of the total 600 Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students, 63 students (10.5%) showed a high level of educational aspiration, 213 students (35.5%) showed a moderate level, and 324 students (54%) showed a low level of educational aspiration. To examine the differences among the levels of educational aspiration, a chi-square value of 174.90 was calculated, which was found significant at the 0.05 level. It was concluded that a large proportion of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students possess a low level of educational aspiration. This reflects the influence of socio-economic constraints restrict students’ future academic goals.