The ripple effect of school dropout: exploring the nexus between school dropout, deviance, and subsequent arrest amongst children in India
| Date | 25 July 2024 |
| Pages | 136-149 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRPP-03-2024-0015 |
| Published date | 25 July 2024 |
| Author | Anantharamakrishnan Senthivel,Dhanapal Madurai,Michael L. Valan,George E. Richards |
The ripple effect of school dropout:
exploring the nexus between school
dropout, deviance, and subsequent arrest
amongst children in India
Anantharamakrishnan Senthivel, Dhanapal Madurai, Michael L. Valan and
George E. Richards
Abstract
Purpose –This paper aims to measure the prevalenceof deviant behaviour among children who have
dropped out of school and their subsequent arrests by the criminal justice system. The paper further
analyses the relationshipbetween the factors attributedto deviant behaviour and the subsequent arrests
by the criminaljustice system.
Design/methodology/approach –Using a semi-structuredinterview schedule, data was collectedfrom
330 children who had alreadydropped out of school, remained on the streets or worked. The interviews
took placein the presence of either of the children’s parents,with their consent.
Findings –The research identified12 significant factors contributing to childrendropping out of school.
It also found six factors responsible for deviant behaviour. Furthermore, the study revealed that about
70% of the respondents were involved in one or more deviant behaviours.Among them, 51% had been
detained by the Police in the past two years. Additionally,the linear regression model results positively
predictthe nexus among the six factors responsible for deviantbehaviour.
Research limitations/implications –The study is limited to male children who had dropped out of
school, as female children were excluded. In connection with measuring deviant behaviour, it was
challengingto discern whether it occurred beforestudents left school, after or both.
Practical implications –The study suggests several measures, including policies such as early
intervention programmes, providing quality education, mentoring and counselling fors tudentsand parents,
vocational education opportunities, creating drug-free environments, career guidance, peer mentoring,
community engagement, substance abuse prevention and rehabilitation programmes, to prevent school
dropout and subsequent deviant behaviour.
Originality/value –To the best of the authors’ knowledge,this study is unique to India. The moderation
regressionmodel represents an exceptional finding. Thisstudy constitutes another addition to the fieldof
child welfarewhile also indicating scope forfuture research.
Keywords Children, Dropout, Causes of dropout, Deviant behaviour, Detention
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Education is one of the most significant aspectsof promoting healthy social development. It
is an ultimate human right and a driver of economic progress and humanadvancement
(Wobbekind, 2012;UNESCO, 2023;Murray, 2023). India, a developing nation, needs high-
quality education to spread the values of equality, freedom and justice for all. Education
fosters the idea that life may be better, strengthening the ties that bind people together and
fostering integration, tolerance and a stable environment. The importance of education
Anantharamakrishnan
Senthivel and Dhanapal
Madurai are both at the
School of Criminology and
Criminal Justice
Administration, Tamil Nadu
Open University, Chennai,
India. Michael L. Valan is
based at Jindal Global Law
School, OP Jindal Global
University, Sonipat, India.
George E. Richards is
based at the Department of
Criminal Justice, History
and Politics, Pennsylvania
Western University
Edinboro, Pennsylvania,
Pennsylvania, USA.
Received 16 March 2024
Revised 18 June 2024
Accepted 18 June 2024
PAGE 136 jJOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH, POLIC Y AND PRACTICE jVOL. 10 NO. 22024, pp. 136-149,©Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2056-3841DOI 10.1108/JCRPP-03-2024-0015
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