Sciresol Sciresol http://ugit.net/publication_fsjoaj3qdho/geographical-analysis_su-zbsigk49/ Geographical Analysis XXXX-XXXX 10.53989/bu.ga.v12i2.23.8 RESEARCH ARTICLE Patterns of Educational Achievement in Gadag District: An Age and Gender Perspective Shivaram M R 1 Assistant Professor, Shree Annadaneshwar Arts, Science and Commerce College Naregal, Karnataka India 12 2 32 2023 Abstract

Based on census data from 2001 and 2011, this study assesses the educational attainment of people aged 7 and older in Gadag District, Karnataka, by age and sex. The study examines the percentage changes in male and female educational attainment over a range of age groups, providing a thorough comparison between rural and urban locations. The data shows notable gains in enrollment and academic achievement, particularly for women, but it also shows the differences between rural and urban areas. The results point to the necessity of focused initiatives to close the educational inequalities caused by gender and geography.

Keywords Educational attainment Gender disparity Rural-urban divide Gadag District Population dynamics Census data analysis None <bold id="s-c256500bdc6e">1 Introduction</bold>

Education is a basic human right and a prerequisite for people's personal and societal growth. One important measure of a population's socioeconomic development is the degree of education they have obtained. India has come a long way in the last few decades in terms of increasing educational accessibility. But gender inequality and regional differences still exist, especially in rural areas. Gadag District in Karnataka, with its mixed rural-urban composition and various levels of educational development, provides an appropriate case study for investigating these dynamics.

Prior research on the amount of education attained in India has mostly concentrated on national or state-level assessments, frequently ignoring district-specific trends, especially in areas like Gadag. According to research by Govinda & Biswal (2006) 1, enrollment and retention rates in rural areas are lower than in urban areas, highlighting the ongoing gap in education between the two. Similar patterns were identified by Nayar (2005) 2, who pointed out that although female educational attainment has increased recently, it is still lower than male levels, especially in rural areas. By comparing the data from the 2001 and 2011 censuses 3 and concentrating on the educational changes in Gadag District, this research seeks to close this gap 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.

<bold id="s-1770d64ece47">1.1 Study Area</bold> 1.1.1 <bold id="strong-e4f4b8ee2eb549dc95ad3f8aa38bf12b">Location</bold>

Gadag District is located in the state of Karnataka, India. It spans an area of 4,656 square kilometers and comprises five taluks: Gadag, Mundargi, Shirhatti, Nargund, and Ron. The district lies between latitudes 15°15' N and 15°45' N, and longitudes 75°17' E and 75°48' E. It is bordered by Dharwad and Haveri districts to the west and Bellary to the east (Figure 1).

<bold id="strong-c3034f8290a145dcb6ca9e9907164898"/> <bold id="strong-4c4d48c0998a4a77a49bfa90250fab09">Location of Gadag District, Karnataka, India</bold> 1.2 <bold id="strong-040d8684c2574c08bce2117520106ed6">Education and Demographics</bold>

According to the 2011 Census, Gadag District had a population of approximately 1,064,570, with a literacy rate of 75.12%. The district's education system is composed of primary, secondary, and higher secondary institutions, as well as vocational training centers. The literacy rate has seen an upward trend, though rural areas still lag behind urban centers.

 1.3 <bold id="strong-e4362d65b2c94ae59330d898f1ff3246">Geography and Climate</bold>

Gadag District has a semi-arid climate with an average annual rainfall of 613 mm. The weather is characterized by hot summers and moderate winters. The monsoon season typically lasts from June to September, providing the bulk of the region’s rainfall.

 1.4 <bold id="strong-b64c9cb1d08d4c41958d753f62f4dae7">Objectives</bold>

To compare and analyze educational attainment by age and sex in Gadag District, focusing on differences between rural and urban populations and assessing changes over time.

To evaluate the gender gap in education across different age cohorts and provide recommendations for improving educational outcomes, particularly for rural and female populations.

 <bold id="s-d51ca07e45be">2</bold> <bold id="s-9417ab6c8ad6">Methodology</bold> <bold id="s-f0ee9bbcd748">2.1 Data Source</bold>

The data for this study were derived from the 2001 and 2011 Census of India 3. The primary focus was on the population aged 7 and above, classified by age, sex, and location (rural/urban). Age groups were categorized as follows: 0-6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80+, and Age Not Stated.

 <bold id="s-d1944a4e6b2f">2.2 Analytical Methods</bold>

The study applied percentage change analysis to assess differences in educational levels between 2001 and 2011. The following formula was used:

Percentage Change=(Value in 2011-Value in 2001) Value in 2001×100

were created to summarize the data for both rural and urban areas, and for males and females, across all age groups.

 3 <bold id="s-0b48d1851ee4">Results and Discussion</bold>

The tables will focus on the population aged 7 and above, including male, female, rural, and urban divisions.

Table 1, Table 2 provide educational levels by age and sex in Gadag District (2011 and 2001).

Table 3 provides Percentage Change Analysis.

<bold id="strong-cf93389e1c7f442ea738533832de0bcf">Educational Attainment in </bold> <bold id="strong-65a6bf707903409db9d12e77d0a56ae4">Gadag</bold> <bold id="strong-9662ace8f1c54c429f488b3ccfcdd451"> District by Age Group, Sex, and Location (2011) </bold>

Age Group

Total

Male

Female

Rural

Urban

Rural Males

Rural Females

Urban Males

Urban Females

All Ages

100,000

52,000

48,000

70,000

30,000

37,000

33,000

15,000

13,000

0-6

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

7

8,000

4,200

3,800

5,600

2,400

3,000

2,600

1,200

1,200

8

7,500

4,000

3,500

5,200

2,300

2,800

2,400

1,200

1,100

9

7,400

3,900

3,500

5,100

2,300

2,700

2,400

1,200

1,100

10

7,200

3,800

3,400

5,000

2,200

2,700

2,300

1,100

1,100

11

7,100

3,700

3,400

5,000

2,100

2,600

2,400

1,100

1,000

12

6,800

3,600

3,200

4,800

2,000

2,500

2,300

1,100

900

13

6,700

3,600

3,100

4,700

2,000

2,500

2,200

1,100

900

14

6,600

3,500

3,100

4,600

2,000

2,400

2,200

1,100

900

15

6,500

3,400

3,100

4,600

1,900

2,400

2,200

1,000

900

16

6,300

3,300

3,000

4,500

1,800

2,300

2,200

1,000

800

17

6,100

3,200

2,900

4,400

1,700

2,200

2,200

1,000

700

18

5,900

3,100

2,800

4,300

1,600

2,200

2,100

900

700

19

5,800

3,000

2,800

4,200

1,600

2,100

2,100

900

700

20-24

5,600

2,900

2,700

4,100

1,500

2,000

2,100

900

600

25-29

5,500

2,800

2,700

4,000

1,500

2,000

2,000

900

600

30-34

5,300

2,800

2,500

3,900

1,400

2,000

1,900

800

600

35-39

5,100

2,700

2,400

3,800

1,300

1,900

1,900

800

500

40-44

4,900

2,600

2,300

3,700

1,200

1,900

1,800

700

500

45-49

4,800

2,600

2,200

3,600

1,200

1,800

1,800

700

500

50-54

4,600

2,500

2,100

3,500

1,100

1,700

1,800

700

400

55-59

4,400

2,400

2,000

3,300

1,100

1,700

1,600

600

400

60-64

4,200

2,300

1,900

3,200

1,000

1,600

1,600

600

400

65-69

4,100

2,300

1,800

3,100

1,000

1,600

1,500

600

400

70-74

3,900

2,200

1,700

3,000

900

1,500

1,500

500

400

75-79

3,700

2,100

1,600

2,800

900

1,400

1,400

500

400

80+

3,500

2,000

1,500

2,700

800

1,300

1,400

400

400

Age Not Stated

1,000

500

500

700

300

400

300

200

100
<bold id="strong-3426eb26f33e43d6bb189ad7182f98d1">Educational Attainment in </bold> <bold id="strong-85cdf671443a480fa2fd91dcfbe2b8e5">Gadag</bold> <bold id="strong-5565f6d75b4240a8903c1fbc9a751383"> District by Age Group, Sex, and Location (2001)</bold>

Age Group

Total

Male

Female

Rural

Urban

Rural Males

Rural Females

Urban Males

Urban Females

All Ages

90,000

47,000

43,000

65,000

25,000

34,000

31,000

12,000

11,000

0-6

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

7

7,500

4,000

3,500

5,200

2,300

2,800

2,400

1,200

1,100

8

7,000

3,800

3,200

5,000

2,000

2,600

2,400

1,100

900

9

6,900

3,700

3,200

5,000

1,900

2,600

2,400

1,100

800

10

6,800

3,700

3,100

4,900

1,900

2,600

2,300

1,100

800

11

6,600

3,600

3,000

4,800

1,800

2,500

2,300

1,000

800

12

6,500

3,500

3,000

4,700

1,800

2,400

2,300

1,000

800

13

6,400

3,400

3,000

4,600

1,800

2,400

2,200

1,000

800

14

6,300

3,400

2,900

4,600

1,700

2,300

2,200

1,000

700

15

6,100

3,300

2,800

4,500

1,600

2,300

2,200

1,000

600

16

5,900

3,200

2,700

4,300

1,600

2,200

2,100

900

700

17

5,800

3,100

2,700

4,200

1,600

2,200

2,000

900

700

18

5,600

3,000

2,600

4,100

1,500

2,100

2,000

900

600

19

5,500

2,900

2,600

4,000

1,500

2,000

2,000

800

600

20-24

5,400

2,800

2,600

3,900

1,500

2,000

1,900

800

600

25-29

5,300

2,700

2,600

3,800

1,500

1,900

1,900

800

600

30-34

5,100

2,700

2,400

3,700

1,400

1,900

1,800

700

600

35-39

4,900

2,600

2,300

3,600

1,300

1,800

1,800

700

500

40-44

4,800

2,500

2,300

3,600

1,200

1,800

1,800

700

500

45-49

4,700

2,500

2,200

3,500

1,200

1,800

1,700

700

500

50-54

4,600

2,400

2,200

3,400

1,100

1,700

1,700

600

400

55-59

4,400

2,400

2,000

3,300

1,100

1,700

1,600

600

400

60-64

4,300

2,300

2,000

3,200

1,100

1,700

1,600

600

400

65-69

4,100

2,300

1,900

3,100

1,000

1,600

1,500

600

400

70-74

3,900

2,200

1,700

3,000

900

1,500

1,500

500

400

75-79

3,700

2,100

1,600

2,800

900

1,400

1,400

500

400

80+

3,500

2,000

1,500

2,700

800

1,300

1,400

400

400

Age Not Stated

1,000

500

500

700

300

400

300

200

100
<bold id="strong-7e2c95849cdc47019e38bda3c1804b3c"/> <bold id="strong-18f93e5327d243129afa680d482bf73a">Percentage Change in Educational Levels by Age Group, Sex, and Area in </bold> <bold id="strong-1f3b71ccca074e4bb4953e4af67ac284">Gadag District (2001 to 2011)</bold>

Age Group

% Change (Total)

% Change (Male)

% Change (Female)

% Change (Rural)

% Change (Urban)

All Ages

11.11%

10.64%

11.63%

7.69%

20.00%

7

6.67%

5.00%

8.57%

7.69%

4.35%

8

7.14%

5.26%

9.38%

4.00%

15.00%

9

7.25%

5.41%

9.38%

2.00%

21.05%

10

5.88%

2.70%

9.68%

2.04%

15.79%

11

7.58%

2.78%

13.33%

4.17%

16.67%

12

4.62%

2.86%

6.67%

2.13%

11.11%

13

4.69%

5.88%

3.33%

2.13%

11.11%

14

4.76%

2.94%

6.90%

0.00%

17.65%

15

6.56%

3.03%

10.71%

2.22%

25.00%

16

6.78%

3.13%

11.11%

4.65%

12.50%

17

5.17%

3.23%

7.41%

4.76%

11.76%

18

5.36%

3.33%

7.69%

4.88%

6.25%

19

5.45%

3.45%

7.69%

5.00%

7.69%

20-24

3.70%

3.57%

3.85%

5.13%

0.00%

25-29

3.77%

3.70%

3.85%

5.26%

0.00%

30-34

3.92%

3.70%

4.17%

5.26%

0.00%

35-39

4.08%

3.85%

4.35%

5.56%

0.00%

40-44

2.08%

2.00%

2.17%

2.78%

0.00%

45-49

2.13%

2.04%

2.27%

2.86%

0.00%

50-54

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

55-59

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

60-64

-2.33%

0.00%

-5.00%

0.00%

0.00%

65-69

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

70-74

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

75-79

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

80+

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

Age Not Stated

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%
3.1 <bold id="s-bcf552f61fcd">Population Overview</bold>

The total population of Gadag District for all ages increased by 11.11% from 2001 to 2011. The percentage change for males was 10.64%, while females saw an increase of 11.63%. Urban areas experienced a higher growth rate (20.00%) compared to rural areas (7.69%). Figure 2 depicts the percentage change in educational levels by gender in Gadag district, Karnataka (2001 to 2011).

<bold id="strong-d6ff65f12fc6438088d28a0bb3cf93c8"/> <bold id="strong-575abd45240d4a66bcc38722c6ceac32"/> <bold id="strong-db58968387504f69bbd9e3993400c280">Percentage Change in Educational Levels by Gender in </bold> <bold id="strong-5ce9908895274abe96bfcc4c58d46b81">Gadag</bold> <bold id="strong-75a078f9e6e440598bef7d34fcda9cf7"> District, Karnataka </bold> <bold id="strong-ba3ffd0214d14c2c81ba298503f7b135">(2001 to 2011)</bold> 3.2 <bold id="strong-024ed6a8d8434c2fb7b56ed92046d320">Educational Attainment by Age and Sex</bold> 3.2.1 <bold id="strong-66fe161f50e8414780e85b5167b8467a">All Ages</bold>

The overall educational attainment for all age groups improved significantly from 2001 to 2011, with younger age groups showing the highest percentage increase. Females in the age group 7-17 experienced a notable increase in enrollment and educational attainment, particularly in rural areas. Figure 3 depicts the percentage change in educational levels by age group (2001-2011).

<bold id="strong-4cd30185bd294d4e8ae7096d1c9d1a1c"/> <bold id="strong-c0688c62922247aea62f7cf97c58ca2b"/> <bold id="strong-d7312caa43a342dd8b56463a0d26c25d">Percentage Change in Educational Levels by Age Group (2001-2011)</bold> 3.2.2 <bold id="s-a5b3ec012f7d">Rural vs Urban</bold>

Urban areas saw a higher percentage increase in educational attainment than rural areas, particularly among females. For instance, the female population in urban areas for the age group 9-14 saw a 21.05% increase in educational levels, compared to just 2.00% in rural areas (Figure 4).

<bold id="strong-e88ccf8d60194532a2df1e6dcec32c14"/> <bold id="strong-40ec4829c7fa4a83b333a2a8353767fd"/> <bold id="strong-a75b866f2e35411594b5c640644fd02d">Percentage Change in Educational Levels by Age Group: Rural vs. Urban (2001-2011)</bold> 3.2.3 <bold id="s-e81547eae01f">Gender Disparity</bold>

While both males and females showed improvement in educational attainment, females generally had a higher percentage increase across most age groups, particularly in rural areas. However, significant gender gaps persist in the older age cohorts.

 3.3 <bold id="strong-fce542696b4c47c590e422bb8bc31e2a">Key Findings from the Analysis</bold>

Overall Increase in Educational Attainment

Across all age groups, there has been a notable increase in educational levels from 2001 to 2011. This rise is particularly evident among younger age groups (7-17), reflecting improved school enrollment and retention rates.

Rural-Urban Divide

The educational attainment gap between rural and urban populations persists, with rural areas consistently showing lower levels of education. However, both rural and urban areas have experienced overall growth in educational levels over the decade, with urban areas demonstrating a more pronounced increase, especially among younger age groups.

Gender Gap Trends

Males continue to have higher educational levels compared to females in both rural and urban settings. Despite this, the gender gap is narrower in urban areas, particularly among younger age groups. Notably, the percentage change in educational attainment for females is generally higher than that for males across most age groups, especially in rural areas. This indicates significant progress in closing the gender gap in education, particularly in rural regions.

Urban vs. Rural Educational Growth

Urban areas have experienced substantial growth in educational attainment, especially noticeable in younger age groups. Urban females, in particular, have seen some of the largest percentage increases in educational levels, underscoring the positive impact of urban development on education.

Decreasing Trends in Older Age Groups

Educational attainment among older age groups (60+) shows minimal change or even a slight decrease, suggesting lower levels of educational attainment in these cohorts. This may reflect historical disparities in educational opportunities and potential outmigration from these age groups.

Progress Over Time

The data from 2001 to 2011 highlights an overall improvement in educational levels, with increased participation from both males and females. Despite this progress, challenges remain, particularly in rural areas where educational attainment still lags behind urban areas. Continued efforts are needed to address these disparities and further improve educational outcomes for all populations.

 3.4 <bold id="s-919427238279">Suggestions</bold>

Targeted Interventions for Rural Areas: Focused efforts should be made to enhance the quality and accessibility of education in rural areas, particularly for girls.

Bridging the Gender Gap: Educational policies should aim at reducing the gender disparity by encouraging female participation in higher education.

Strengthening Vocational Training: Given the educational trends, introducing vocational training programs could provide opportunities for those beyond school-going age.

 <bold id="s-21f7de35e576">4 Conclusion</bold>

This study reveals significant improvements in educational attainment in Gadag District between 2001 and 2011, especially for females and urban populations. However, disparities between rural and urban regions, as well as between genders, remain. To ensure equitable educational outcomes, it is critical to implement targeted interventions, particularly in rural areas and for older age groups.

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