Examining the Influence of Gender-Based Disparities on the Holistic Development of Students at Primary School Level: A Study in Boudh District of Odisha
Author : Nanda Kishor Sahoo, Dr. Pramod Kumar Rajput and Dr. Jai Nath Yadav
Abstract :
Gender-based disparities remain a persistent barrier to equitable education in rural and tribal districts of India. This study examines the influence of such disparities on the holistic development—cognitive, social, emotional, and physical—of primary school students (Classes VI–VIII) in Boudh district, Odisha, using a sample of 50 Students. A mixed-method design was employed across 10 schools in 3 blocks. Data from 50 students (25 boys, 25 girls), 15 teachers, and 20 parents were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Results reveal significant gender gaps: 42% of girls faced lower classroom participation compared to 12% of boys, and 30% of girls experienced restricted physical activity. A pie chart illustrates the distribution of gender-based barriers affecting holistic development. The study concludes that even in a small sample, gender disparities distinctly impair holistic development, warranting urgent intervention.
Keywords :
Gender disparities, holistic development, primary education, Boudh district, Odisha, small sample study.
