Does lack of parental involvement affect school dropout among Indian adolescents? evidence from a panel study

Despite the gross enrolment ratio of Indian children, being almost 91% in grades 6-8, the equivalently soaring rates of school dropout after 8th grade remains a huge concern for the policymakers. Researches from the developed countries and some developing countries have shown the benefits of parental involvement in their children's education in terms of reduced dropout rates. However, there is a stark absence of similar evidence in the Indian context. Our study examines whether the lack of parental involvement during primary schooling of Indian children eventually results in school dropout when the children become adolescents. We used IHDS panel data of children (8-11 years) in round-I who become adolescents (15-18 years) in round-II. Bivariate, multivariable and stratified analyses were performed using logistic regression models. The findings from the multivariable models show that children, whose parents did not -participate in PTA meetings, -discuss academic progress with schoolteacher and -supervise their children's homework in round-I respectively had 1.15 (95% CI: 1.01-1.30), 1.14 (95% CI: 1.01-1.29) and 1.17 (95% CI: 1.01-1.34) times higher risk of school dropout in round-II. Further, a similar relationship was observed when hypothesized relationship by gender, type of school attended and type of community of the children were examined. Among male children, parents' non-participation in PTA meetings was associated with 1.21 (95% CI: 1.02-1.44) times greater odds of school dropout. Children from private schools also had a 2.17 (95% CI: 1.42-3.32) times greater risk of dropout if their parents did not supervise their children in homework These findings highlight the crucial role of parental involvement in their children's primary education, in terms of reduced school dropout. The findings call for programmatic interventions that create awareness and encourage parental participation in their children's schooling.