EDUCATIONAL STATUS:
The educational status of the dalits is very poor. The older generations are completely illiterate and the younger generation has now slowly started entering the portals of educational institutions. This is because of the efforts of the Bon Secours Congregation, which has taken a lead to enroll the children in schools. This academic year (June 2005) a higher secondary school was established by the Diocese of Chengalpattu and all children who dropped out or failed in the classes and who were at home were enrolled in the school. The congregation of Bon Secours played a vital role in enrolling the children in this school. (Though there is a government school in Acharapakkam the children find it difficult to commute between the school and their villages as there are no proper bus services, also the extra attention and care needed to educate the first generation learners is absent. This situation deters parents from sending the children to school and some who join schools dropout sooner or later. Moreover women’s education is not a priority here.
