iJournals: International Journal of Social Relevance & Concern (IJSRC) ISSN-2347-9698 Volume 9 Issue 5 May 2021 Dr. Angonjam Annu Devi; Afrina Borborah, Volume 9 Issue 5, pp 12-18 May 2021 Educational status of orphanages: A study in Kamrup Metro (Urban) District, Assam, (India). Authors: Dr. Angonjam Annu Devi 1 ; Afrina Borborah 2 Associate Prof., PQSE, University of Science & Technology, Meghalaya 1 ; Lecturer, Ataur Rahman College of Education,Udmari Kalgachia, Barpeta, Assam 2 ; E-mail: annu.ango@gmail.com 1 ; afrina2009@gmail.com 2 DOI: 10.26821/IJSRC.9.5.2021.9504 Abstract: In common usage, a child (or a young animal) that has lost both parents is called an orphan. Deaths of parents bring major changes in the life of a child, making an orphan or vulnerable child (OVC). This unfortunate change may involve moving from a middle or upper class urban home to a poor rural relative’s home, separating from siblings and without due considerations of their needs, they could be admitted to an orphanage home/institution. The present study is to find out the educational status of orphans in terms of well equipped classrooms, up to date education system, teachers’ teaching in the orphan homes/orphanages fulfil their educational needs, children developing themselves for future, sufficient modern and scientific equipments for teaching, library facility for the children and availability of library books. Present study adopted survey method where questionnaire, interview and observation technique were used as tools. 50 (fifty) orphaned children of 5 (five) orphanages in Kamrup Metro (Urban) District, Assam (India) were the sample of the study using simple random sampling. Percentage and bar diagram were used for statistics technique. lt was found that most of the orphanages have well infrastructure, environment and good atmosphere which is most important in educating them. Secondly, the teachers as well as the fathers, mothers, caretakers, sisters are found to be of very friendly nature and they are very much helpful to the children at any time in fulfilling their dreams. This study has brought light to the various educational problems of the orphans which are of great importance as children are the builder of the nation and education should be the first priority. Key words: Education, Orphanages, Kamrup Metro (Urban) District, Assam. 1. INTRODUCTION According to Oxford Dictionary the word “orphan” which is a noun means a child whose parents are dead and bereaved (a child) of its parents. The word orphan derived from the Greek word “orphanos” which means „bereaved‟. In common usage, only a child (or a young animal) who has lost both parents is called an orphan. Some definitions as advanced by researchers are “orphan is someone who lacks support or care or supervision or someone deprived of parents or who‟s natural are absent or dead or whose parents are not there to bring him up.” An orphan or vulnerable child (OVC) is a child under the age of 18 whose mother, father, both parents, or a primary caregiver has died, and who is in need of care or protection (Namibian Government definition, 2002). Deaths of parents introduce a major change in the life of a vulnerable child. This change may involve moving from a middle or upper class urban home to a poor rural relative‟s home. It may involve separation from siblings, which is often done arbitrarily when orphaned children are divided among relatives without due considerations of their needs or sometimes could be admitted to an orphanage institution. The children, who choose to move with relative, may suffer. It may mean the end of a child‟s opportunity for education because of lack of schooling expenses. Those children who choose not to move or who may not have any other relative to go to may be forced to live on their own, constituting child-headed families. All those changes can easily affect not only physical, but also