Vani K. Borooah
Social Identity and Educational Attainment: The Role of Caste and Religion in Explaining Differences between Children in India
University of Ulster
abstract aim article gauge size educational gap children aged 811 years belonging different social groups india well established educational attainments vary considerably indias caste religious groups muslims dalits scheduled castes adivasis scheduled tribes backward classes obc backward using data indian human development survey 2005 tested 12300 children aged 811 ability read write arithmetic different levels competence study examines inequalities within social groups test scores children argue intergroup comparisons educational attainment take account mean level achievement children group also degree inequality distribution achievements children group article proceeds enquire different children different levels educational achievement central conclusion controlling number parental household schoolrelated factors children different social groups compared brahmin children disadvantaged three competencies reading arithmetic writing however disadvantage greatest muslim dalit adivasi children children disadvantaged respect three competencies disadvantage embraced failure well success using decomposition analysis article quantifies structural advantage brahmin high caste children enjoyed dalit muslim counterparts