Outline India conducted a formative study to understand the socio-psychological barriers to native language learning among children between 5-7 years of age in Maharashtra.
Through the exploration of attitudes, practices, values, and aspirations of the different stakeholders included in the study, it offered insights into the conditions that act as facilitators or impediments to the inculcation of language skills. Specifically, the study investigated the infrastructural, physical, social, and cultural factors influencing local language skills acquisition. The study included - surveys with school management - in-depth interviews with caregivers, Anganwadi workers, and children - a reading assessment, focus group discussions, and in-depth interviews with students.
Aspects of children's schooling, such as infrastructure, prevalent modes and quality of teaching, and usage of technology in primary schools and at the Anganwadi centers were also scrutinized for the study.