School dropouts in the Philippines: causes, changes and statistics

Abstract

School dropout is a major problem as it has negative impacts that result in high social costs. A learner can be called a dropout when the learner fails to enroll in school despite having reached the mandatory school age. This paper aims to identify the root causes of school dropouts in the Philippines, specifically in all regions for the years 2008 and 2013. The secondary data on the proportion of population 6 to 24 years old who are not attending school from the website of the Philippine Statistics Authority were used. The data were analyzed using R version 4.2.1. This paper employed descriptive statistics, namely frequency and percentage to identify the root causes of dropping out in the Philippines when grouped according to region and year. Percentage change (increase and decrease) were explored to track changes in the causes of school dropouts. The findings indicated that the high cost of education, and student employment or when the student is seeking employment were the root causes of dropouts in the Philippines for the years 2008 and 2013, respectively. Based on the findings, it is recommended that the Philippine government, through the Department of Education, should prioritize programs that will address the root causes of the school dropouts with the goal of decreasing the dropout rate in general.

Competency of Teachers and Laboratory Environment in an Online Setting as Predictors of Science Process Skills of Students: A Convergent Design

“…The research employed purposive sampling in selecting respondents for the study. Purposive sampling is choosing the study's respondents based on their knowledge of the researcher's required information (Parreno and Jimenez, 2014).…”

Causes and Prevention of Dropouts of Students in Higher Secondary Schools of Quetta

“…Extensive research has been conducted on the complex and multifaceted issue of students dropping out from their school, both in printed & electronic forms. Different researchers have identified various causes of student dropout, including problematic behavior (Christle et al, 2007;Balfanz & Legters, 2004), lengthy subjects studied in secondary school (Paksi et al, 2023), anti-social peer relations (Lucky, 2011;Bradshaw et al, 2008), and economic factors such as low income levels and poverty (Parreño, 2023;Wild et al, 2023;Kakar et al, 2021). Other factors such as the education of females, teacher training, and exam patterns have also been identified as contributing to high dropout rates (Mughal & Aldridge, 2017;Sultana, 2017;Farooq, 1948).…”

“…On the other hand, engagement in different paid work, gender discrimination against girls, and involvement in multiple activities such as substance abuse (especially boys) are mostly risk factors for students dropping out of school. Furthermore, having no or limited interest in education and other familial reasons have also been identified as contributing to dropout (see also Parreño, 2023;Saghir, 2022). Addressing this issue requires improving the socioeconomic status of families, enhancing government incentives for education, providing suitable job opportunities for boys & girls after completing their schooling, and increasing awareness of the importance of education.…”

“…They are also more likely to live in poverty, receive public assistance, be incarcerated, and have poor health outcomes (Winny & Muchesia, 2023;Wild et al, 2023;Kishore & Shaji, 2012;Freudenberg & Ruglis, 2007;Gonzales et al, 2004). In addition, students who are dropping out from school are at higher risk of experiencing low mental health & well-being and mostly engaging in delinquent behavior (see also Kumar et al, 2023;Parreño, 2023;Liem et al, 2010;Sweeten et al, 2009). Risky behavior may also contribute to educational underachievement and increase the likelihood of dropping out (Maertens, 2013).…”

Analyzing crop production statistics of the Philippines using the newcomb-benford law

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