This research sought to investigate into factors contributing to high dropout rate amongst grade 9 learners in Mqanduli district. Though access to basic education in South Africa has increased substantially over the last few years, dropout rate in the schools continues to rise up in many rural schools especially Mqanduli district schools. The consequence of dropout as a matter of fact has a profound effect on the individual, family, community and economy. It is common knowledge that high dropout rate reduces the pool of qualified people from diverse backgrounds. In our rural schools most specially Mqanduli district, the concern of the researcher was to find out in Mqanduli schools the factors that contribute to high drop-out rate amongst Grade 9 learners and how they can be minimized if not eradicated. The study approach was qualitative, using the case study technique. The case study technique was used for the in-depth investigation of the factors contributing to high learner dropout. In this study, the target population was two school management team (SMT) per school and one head of department (HoD) and a principal in each of the selected schools in the Mqanduli district junior schools. Samples of the two schools were conveniently selected from the population of schools in the Mqanduli district research data gathering. The main research instrument was face to face semi-structured interview schedule. The face to face semi-structured individual interview was used with the participants due to its flexibility, this was done with the help of a voice recorder and field notes. The data analysis procedure for this study took two forms: first, transcribing the interviews, reviewing and identifying and coding the recurring themes within the data for each of the participants. The second part was to identify common themes and areas of variations among the participants. For ethical consideration, permission was sought from the Walter Sisulu University ethical clearance committee, the district office and principals of the selected schools and all participants. Finding1 Learner dropout rate: The research findings show that learners‟ dropout rate was due to poor socio-economic background, poor school nfrastructure, personal reasons, and teacher/learner relationship. The average percentage of learner dropout within five years is 13% in both schools. With in five year period, thus from 2006 to 2010 in school A total of 254 learners were admitted. At the end of year period, 222 learners were promoted to the next grade, The total number of dropouts in school A was 32. In school B 279 learners were admitted. At the end of the year period, 243 learners were promoted to the next grade. In school B the total number of dropouts was 36.

Withdrawal from a program of studies can have negative consequences that extend beyond those that directly affect the dropouts. Beyond the lack of employment related skills and the impact that dropping out may have on students' confidence in their ability as learners, attrition also has an effect on the educational institute and sponsoring agencies. For example, program attrition leaves the training provider with empty seats but no corresponding reduction in training costs and the sponsoring agencies with a limited return on their training investments. This study examined attrition in short-term vocational programs to determine if factors from research on other postsecondary populations are applicable to these kinds of students. A formula was also developed to predict, early in the program, which students are most likely to withdraw. A review of the research confirmed that what is known about factors related to attrition for students in short-term vocational programs is limited. This necessitated a "borrowing" of factors from research directed at high school students and those in adult and higher education programs. By means of a mailed questionnaire, and using institute records, data were collected for those factors relevant to the population and program under study. These factors were divided into those students brought with them and those they experienced after they began their training. Of the 36 pre-entry factors studied, 12 produced statistically significant relationships when compared to persistence/withdrawal. The significant factors included high school graduation; test scores on reading vocabulary, reading comprehension, reference skills, math computation, math concepts and applications, and combined reading and combined math scores; mean differences in age; the student's socioeconomic status; certainty of program choice; and locus of control as related to high school persistence/withdrawal. Of those categorized as postentry, 10 of the 28 factors produced statistically significant relationships when compared to the indicator variable. These factors were enough study time, study time compared to others, hours per week at PVI, tests passed per attempt, tests exceeded per attempt, feeling that friends had gained from the program, estimation of program success, financial concern, agency sponsorship, and the use of Training Consultants. Combining the statistically significant factors using multiple regression analysis produced a prediction formula which included tests passed per attempt, combined math scores, study time compared, age, and feeling that friends had gained from the program. Conclusions based upon the results of the study centered around the application of attrition factors from the study of other populations and the utility of prediction for practitioners. In essence, the researcher believes it is inappropriate to make assumptions regarding attrition by short-term vocational students based upon research findings from other populations. In addition, even though the findings which characterized persisters as "good students" indicate that attrition rates may be reduced by either restricting admission by students who do not fit the profile or by providing these students with additional support, the amount of variance accounted for (16 percent) based upon the results of the multiple regression analysis suggest caution be used in making any decision. The researcher concludes by recommending that future studies examine attrition by using a variety of research methods in an attempt to clarify which factors are related to student attrition. / Education, Faculty of / Educational Studies (EDST), Department of / Graduate

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For many years, nationwide, approximately one third of American high school students have not been graduating from high school. The dropout rate is one of the reasons cited for the implementation of the No Child Left Behind legislation, which highlighted the severity of the dropout problem and the imposing priorities and standards placed on school districts. Mississippi leads the nation in the rate of students who drop out of high school. The purpose of this study was to examine the factors that contribute to the dropout epidemic in secondary schools in the Jackson (Mississippi) Public School District where annually a high percentage of students, particularly African Americans, fail to graduate with their Grade 9 cohorts. This study used a descriptive and causal-comparative research design to identify the contributing factors to secondary school dropouts among 80 students enrolled in the Career Academic Placement (CAP) program in the Jackson Public School District. The Jackson Public Schools Dropout (JPSD) Questionnaire was utilized for the study. Differences in the students’ responses were examined using a Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance (ANOVA). Findings in this study indicated that the number one factor that led students to decide to drop out of school was feeling that they were behind, or failing course work. This affected about 55% of the students, causing them to leave school early. Additional results revealed 15% of the respondents who dropped out were Grade 9 students, and approximately 15% of the respondents who dropped out were Grade 12 students. Approximately 42.5% of the students comprised 10th graders and 27.5% were 11th graders.

High school dropout continues to be an issue of national concern, and the inability of educators and researchers to find means of effectively reducing the dropout rate may be grounded in their approach to understanding this issue. Because there is limited prior research in addressing wellness, perceived stress, and mattering in relationship to at-risk status for dropping out of high school, this study concentrates on the gap in the educational and counseling literature documenting the extent to which these variables can contribute to the prediction of students who are at risk of dropping out of high school. Specifically, wellness, perceived stress, mattering, and at-risk status for dropping out of high school were assessed across 175 students attending a medium-sized high school located in the southeastern part of the United States. Parental informed consent documents and adult student consent documents were obtained primary to gathering data. Packets were administered to each participating student containing a minor assent document to be completed by minor students and removed by adult students, a demographic questionnaire, the Five Factor Wellness Inventory-Teenage Version, the Student At-Risk Identification Scale-Student Questionnaire, the General Mattering Scale, and the Perceived Stress Scale. There were 2 hypotheses considered in this study. First, a significant relationship was posited between the 5 second-order variables of wellness, perceived stress, mattering, and at-risk status for dropping out of high school. This hypothesis was supported with all variables correlating significantly. Second, an overall regression model with 7 predictors (the 5 second-order factors of wellness: creative self, coping self, social self, essential self, and physical self; perceived stress; and mattering) was expected to significantly predict at-risk status for dropping out of high school. Regression analysis revealed that the complete model including all seven predictor variables significantly predicted at-risk status for dropping out of high school, F(7, 167) = 12.89, p < .05. This model accounts for 35.1% of the variance in at-risk status for dropping out of high school. Thus, this hypothesis also was supported. These findings indicate that counselors should utilize skills and interventions that help students stay engaged in the academic process.

Dropping out of high school is an issue that has faced the educational system for years. At a high school in Mississippi, the dropout prevention plan implemented was not beneficial to all at-risk students because it mainly focused on academic issues. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand why students dropped out of high school and to gather strategies for a dropout prevention plan. The conceptual framework was based on 5 factors: general deviancy, deviant affiliation, family socialization, structural strain, and academic quandary. The research questions inquired about experiences that caused students to drop out and suggested strategies for a new dropout prevention plan. Data collection methods included interviews with 18 teachers, 3 counselors, and 20 former students who dropped out between 2007 and 2012. Interpretive data analysis was used to analyze data. Open and axial coding was used to develop themes about why students dropped out of high school. Those themes included behavioral issues, peer and work-related influences, family structure, school environment, and academic problems. Data analyses indicated that tutoring, staff development, mentoring, counseling, parental involvement, teenage mother programs, and alternative options were useful in preventing students from dropping out. These findings were used to develop a high school dropout prevention plan to benefit at-risk students. The overall goal for this project was to decrease high school dropout rates. By implementing the high school dropout prevention plan, schools may enable more students to further their education and become productive citizens within their communities.

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The problem of this study was the differentiation of high schools in a metropolitan school district from the standpoint of the measures taken to prevent student dropouts.

Thesis advisor: Diana C. Pullin / The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) increased the role of the federal government in the education of America's children, raising the standards of performance for all children in all schools and holding schools accountable for the achievement of all children. Schools, districts, and states are required under the law to make adequate yearly progress (AYP) not only in the aggregate, but for certain subgroups of students, including racial and linguistic minorities, children with disabilities, and students who are economically disadvantaged. Schools that fail to make the requisite AYP risk exposure to a host of sanctions including: being labeled "in need of improvement," replacing principals, and state take-over. This dissertation argues that, in this demanding context, it is possible that NCLB may actually be increasing the achievement gap between racial groups in America rather than reducing it. The use of standardized assessments to measure student progress may be causing detrimental effects on students in racial minority groups. These effects may be further compounded in states like Massachusetts where regulations designed to implement NCLB impose additional mandates, such as requiring students to pass a test for graduation. Through an analysis of school profile data reported by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, a review of district documents, and interviews with teachers and administrators at one high school that has been identified as in need of improvement, this dissertation examines the intersection between high stakes testing and retention in light of the system of rewards and sanctions imposed by NCLB, paying particular attention to the disparate impact this phenomenon may be having on students of color in urban schools. This study illuminates the challenges faced by policymakers in their attempts to reduce the achievement gap faced by students in this country as well as the impact such policies have on the practice of teaching and learning. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2013. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Educational Leadership and Higher Education.