Factors influencing secondary school dropouts : the case of Maldives / Aishath Hassan

Abstract

Maldives is a country where knowledge is highly appreciated. Here status and prestige is awarded to those with extraordinary standards in education in education. Hence, for people who do not reach to those levels of academic achievement are usually in directly conditions. The purpose of this study was to find out the reasons behind the secondary grade students decisions to leave school early, without completion, or in other words, become dropout during the course of this research, the school system was also investigated to identify the loopholes in policy implementations, and execution of alternate strategies to minimize student disengagement and dropout rates. Furthermore, an exploration of higher education opportunities was also conducted to ascertain the opportunities available for the dropouts. A qualitative, interpretivist study was conducted using interviews and documents analysis, within the context of Male' school. The findings of the research reflected what was discussed in the literature review, that it is the prolonged exposure to a combination of student - related, community - related, family-related and school - related factors which cause students to become dropouts. It was revealed that family issued had the most influence over students decision to drop out of school. In addition to this, it was also identified that school have started implementing policies and programs to minimize student disengagement and dropout rates. Furthermore, the study discovered that even though opportunities of higher education exist for the dropouts, these were not adequately advertised.
It is recommended that both the community and the educational sector of the country work hand - hand to bring about a change in the status of the society. There is much work which has to be done, but progress and change is inevitable for the hand worker.