Abstract:
A better education system ensures inclusive, equitable and affordable learning
opportunities. Access to an education system is a fundamental right of a
human being. Even though, Sri Lanka records a significance literacy rate in
South Asian region, educational standards in the plantation sector of the state
is still lagging behind. Tea plantation sector is a major source of livelihood for
estate community of the country occupying a prominent place in the plantation
sector of the Central Province which constitutes of three Districts. The number
of young girls who dropout from school in the estate sector in Matale District
is higher. It is reported that the dropout rate for the estate sector is
approximately 8.4 percent at grade five as compared to just 1.4 percent for
whole country (Department of Census and Statistics, 2007). The main focus
of this study is to find out the reasons for school dropout of young girls in the
estate sector in Matale and provide policy measures to mitigate this issue. This
study is mainly based on qualitative research methods. Semi structured
interviews were used to collect the data. The population totally consists of
young girls within the age limit of 17- 25 years in Matale District and a sample
of 40 young girls has been selected from 1279 through convenient sampling
method. Substantial descriptions were used in the data analysis. Financial
difficulties, teenage pregnancy, early marriage and lack of infrastructure are
the main reasons for school dropouts in the selected estates. Policy measures
are suggested to address these issues.
