Secondary education has been a relatively neglected area in India, both at the level of policy and research. Statistical data at the secondary level of education reveals a bleak picture in terms of enrolment and completion rates. This article explores the underlying reasons for the dismal scenario at the secondary level of education by situating it within the larger political economy and livelihood patterns in a rural region. The research is based on an ethnographic study of parents and children from labouring households in a village in Odisha in 2008--2009.