Uncertainly to school: poverty and household decision-making about primary education in India

Policymakers claim that the benefits households gain from educating their children to primary level are great. But if so, why do so many poor Indian households not take advantage of state schooling? When children from poor households do enrol, they often perform badly, attend irregularly or drop out altogether. Class, caste and gender also help determine which children get sent to school, and which will continue through the system. If Universal Primary Education is to become a reality in India, knowledge on how poor households make schooling decisions is crucial. Education systems should be designed in ways that spur attendance by disadvantaged groups.