A Study of Challenges Faced by Students in Rural Areas of Palghar District

Abstract

Education plays an important role in individual development, social mobility and economic progress. However, students living in rural areas frequently experience barriers that affect their educational access, regular attendance, participation and academic performance. The present study, titled “A Study of Challenges Faced by Students in Rural Areas of Palghar District,” examines the technological, financial and transportation-related difficulties experienced by rural students. The study adopted a descriptive research design and collected primary data from 160 respondents through a structured questionnaire. Frequency, percentage, descriptive statistics, a one-sample ttest and the Friedman test were used to analyse and interpret the collected data. The findings reveal that transportation-related difficulties were perceived as the most prominent challenges faced by rural students, followed by technological difficulties, while financial challenges were comparatively less prominent. The statistical results confirm that the levels of the challenges experienced by students differed significantly. Poor road connectivity, inadequate public transportation, long travelling distances, limited access to digital devices, weak internet connectivity and insufficient technological facilities adversely affect students’ educational experiences. The study concludes that educational institutions and government authorities should improve rural transportation services, road and digital infrastructure, internet access and institutional support to promote regular attendance, equitable educational participation and better academic development among students in the rural areas of Palghar district.