What determines schooling of adolescents?: New evidence from India

While primary education has received significant attention from researchers and policymakers, education of adolescents has been a somewhat overlooked area, especially in India. This paper uses new evidence from a primary survey done in Delhi and the 52 nd round of data collected by the National Sample Survey, to examine the determinants of schooling of adolescents in India. The analysis finds that economic status of households, education of parents, social class and gender are the most significant variables that determine the schooling of adolescents. States that are socio-economically backward are also where schooling indicators are adverse, and more so for girls. General economic development continues to be one of the main ways of improving these indicators. The other conclusion is that adult education - not merely literacy - should be pushed to ensure more adolescents, especially girls, attend and stay in school.