Effect of getting through Pre-Degree Examination on Wellbeing of School Dropout Rural Women

Abstract

The study aimed at following up the effects of passing a pre-degree examination on wellbeing of school dropout rural women. Eighty-six school (100%) dropout rural women from 25 villages in three Tahasils, Pune District, Maharashtra, India; passed the pre-degree examination (P. D.), namely, ‘Preparatory Marathi Medium - Certificate Course’ of an Open University. The sample consisted of 64 rural dropout women forming two equivalent groups- P. D. passed (32) and not appeared (32). The women’s age ranged from 18 to 55 years and schooling ranged from fifth to eleventh grade. Their wellbeing with suitable version of Ryff’s Scales of Psychological Wellbeing - RSPW (2005) based on Carol Ryff’s Model of Psychological Wellbeing was assessed. Comparison revealed statistically significant improvement in wellbeing of P. D. passed group. Critical analysis of six facet-wise RSPW scores and the interviews of six women (three from each group) enlightened the findings.

Key words: school dropout rural women, wellbeing