Abstract: :: The scheduled tribes of India constitute 8.08 per cent of the total population and are of various stages of socio-economic progress. They face handicap on account of isolation. Tamil Nadu has got a fairly large number of tribes. It is placed at 20th position in terms of ranking of states. This paper basically tries to explain how the Malayali tribes of Pachamalai Hills of Tamil Nadu are being given support to undergo formal education.
The study comprises an analysis of formal education in tribal youth, with special reference to Malayali tribes among whom formal education is very low, mainly due to low participation and alarming dropout rate and failures. The reasons for the same have been studied by empirical researches characterized by using questionnaire and production of large data for quantitative support. Many studies have come to the conclusion that poverty is the main reason for their non-participation. However, same studies also strongly pointed out that the present curriculum and pedagogy are not in consonance with their life and culture.

*Dr. M. Thamilarasan.