Assessment of Socio-Educational Status of Irula Tribe School Students in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu

The aim of the study is to assess the socio-educational status of Irula tribe middle adolescent school students in the hilly hamlets of Kunjapanai and Anakati, the most backward regions of Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. The study focuses on 6 areas namely, School Curriculum, Parental Role, Sports, Sanitation, Awareness and Abuse. The Findings and recommendations of the study have been documented. The key highlights of the study admits that majority (~74%) of the students rate their school as ‘Average’ due to the poor infrastructure; Didactic mode of teaching is still dominant; Parents role is minimal in their children’s academics; No formal exposure to Sports is available for students, even though ~64% of them prefers to participate in sports and games; Lack of toilet facility, cleanliness and maintenance compels the students to opt for practicing the open defecation; Majority of students don’t have appropriate awareness regarding their career growth. Lastly, almost (~96%) of the students has been subjected to Corporal Punishment in one-way or the other. These need of the students’ voices for proactive intervention of Panchayat, NGOs and local bodies to ameliorate the condition.