What makes them aspire?: A study on the educational aspiration of the poor

Abstract

The qualitative-constructivist study sought to comprehensively understand the social and economic circumstances affecting the "push" and "pull" factors that shaped the educational aspirations of the poor. With data collected through interview of seven (7) participants chosen through purposive sampling and certified as "poor" by the City Social Welfare and Development Office of Passi City, this study used inductive analytic procedure of thematic analysis or grounded theory. Results sowed that the educational aspirations of the poor are influenced by social circumstances which are: "no family support", large family orientation and "limited schooling of the household head", and economic circumstances which are "being poor", low earning capacity of parents" and "working at an early age." This are shaped by "push" factors which are "low earning potentials" and "lack of opportunities for advancements," and "pull" factors which are "high employment probability" and "better economic condition." Generally, the participants had high educational aspirations and viewed education as a gift, a way to help the family, and a means by which they could not to be taken advantage of by others. Discussions, implications, conclusions, and recommendations were made in the light of the themes that emerged in the course of the interview with the participants.