Demographic Determinants of Educational Exclusion among Children of Nomadic Communities: A study of Jaranwala, Pakistan

Abstract

In this research, factors of demographics affecting educational exclusion of children in nomadic "Gypsy" population living in tents in District Faisalabad, Pakistan, are considered. The survey conducted on 100 participants found very low parental education—84% parents without any education—as well as low household incomes and high rate of marriage (92%). Seven out of seven factors of educational exclusion included in the study are distant schools, problems with safety and high frequency of moving because of mobility, and respect of cultural traditions, respectively. Bivariate analysis was done on five demographic variables and showed that only gender variable is significantly associated with educational exclusion. Contrary to assumptions, girls reported much higher educational exclusion compared to boys. Other demographic factors such as age, parental education, marital status, and income were not significantly associated with educational exclusion. Educational exclusion of children in this population is affected mainly by structural factors, such as distant schools, safety problems, and mobility. It is recommended that the interventions be gender-focused and community-wide.