Factors that prevent children from gaining access to schooling: A study of Delhi slum households

This paper examines the factors that prevent slum children aged 5–14 from gaining access to schooling in light of the worsening urban poverty and sizable increase in rural-to-urban migration. Bias against social disadvantage in terms of gender and caste is not clearly manifested in schooling, while migrated children are less likely to attend school. I argue that the lack of preparation for schooling in the pre-schooling ages and school admission procedures are the main obstacles for migrated children. The most important implication for universal elementary education in urban India is raising parental awareness and simplifying the admission procedures.

► School attendance in urban India have recently stagnated or even deteriorated.
► We examine the factors affecting school attendance of slum children aged 5–14.
► Bias against girls and lower castes is not clearly manifested in schooling.
► The structural obstacles seem to prevent Muslim children from attending school.
► Migrated children are disadvantaged due to a lack of preparation for admission and admission procedures.