The Phenomenon of School Dropout
The educational system and its associated institutions, including schools, are facing increasing pressures that may impact students’ perseverance and motivation to succeed. This situation can lead some students to drop out of school, which adversely affects their social integration and subsequently diminishes their chances of achieving success across various facets of life.
Causes of School Dropout
Below are some prominent factors contributing to student dropout rates:
Student Background and Environment
The environment and background from which a student hails play a crucial role in influencing the likelihood of school dropout. Students from low-income families are statistically more prone to dropping out compared to their peers from middle- and high-income households.
Financial Difficulties
This reason is closely related to a student’s background and environment. Students from low-income families may find themselves compelled to leave school to support their struggling households while providing for basic needs. Some may also need to stay home to care for younger siblings when their parents are at work. Additionally, many impoverished families are unable to cover tuition fees, textbooks, or school uniforms, which may ultimately deter them from sending their children to school.
Family Issues or Crises
If a student’s family faces crises such as the death of a parent, the older sibling may have to step into a parental role, taking on the responsibility of caring for their younger siblings. Furthermore, issues like divorce or parental separation can increase dropout rates due to the associated pressures and instability.
Health Problems
The health of the student plays a significant role in dropout rates. Children suffering from illnesses often have to frequently miss school for medical treatment, which affects their ability to learn and perform academically. This absence can make it challenging for them to keep up with schoolwork. In severe cases, chronic illnesses may prevent a child from attending school entirely. Additionally, if a parent falls ill, particularly the mother, the responsibility of caring for younger siblings may fall on the older child, leading to repeated absences from school.
Academic Performance
Poor academic performance is generally correlated with higher dropout rates. Students who invest considerable effort in their studies yet fail to achieve satisfactory exam results may become frustrated, leading them to believe that school is not beneficial to them. Furthermore, students struggling to manage academic pressure from assignments and daily attendance may decide to withdraw from school altogether.
Perception of School’s Importance
Many students perceive school as uninteresting. Frequently, students feel disconnected from what they are studying, finding little relevance to their real-life experiences. Some teachers may neglect to bridge the gap between textbook material and the students’ lived realities, decreasing student motivation to engage with both their teachers and their school environment. This growing sense of boredom can further increase the likelihood of dropping out.