Determinants of students’ dropout rate in primary schools - The case of Awi zone selected schools, Ethiopia

Oct 15, 2026

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The study examines determinants of student dropout rate in seven second-cycle primary schools in Awi Zone, Ethiopia. A descriptive survey design collected data through questionnaires and interviews with teachers, school principals, parent-teacher association representatives, and students who had dropped out. Seventy-three dropout students, seventy-five teachers, seven principals, and seven PTA representatives participated. Quantitative results used percentage, mean, and independent t-tests, while qualitative data used themes and categories, showing significant differences in students’ and teachers’ ratings and stronger influence from in-school and school-related factors.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Education and development context

Dropout as a barrier to primary education

Abstract

Study purpose and design

Data collection and participants

Data analysis methods

Key findings and recommendations

African Educational Research Journal Vol. 5(3), pp. 186-193, August 2017 ISSN: 2354-2160 Full Length Research Paper Determinants of students’ dropout rate in primary schools: The case of Awi zone selected schools, Ethiopia Asrat Dagnew Department of Teacher Education and Curriculum Studies, College of Education and Behavioral Science, Bahir Dar University, Post Box No: 79, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Accepted 13 March, 2017 | ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to examine determinants of student dropout rate in seven second cycle primary schools situated in Awi Zone. To effectuate this, descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The data were collected via questionnaire and interview from teachers, students who had dropped out of school, school principals and parent-teacher association representatives. Seventy three dropped out students, seventy-five teachers, seven school principals, and seven parent teacher association representatives were participated in this study. Dropout students were selected using available sampling technique. Teachers were selected using a simple random sampling technique whereas school principalsand parent teacher association representatives were selected using purposive sampling technique. Quantitative data were analyzed using percentage, mean and independent t-test, whereas qualitative data were analyzed with themes and categories. Independent samples t-test revealed statistically significant differences across students and teachers on determinant factors of dropout. The mean in the t-test indicated teachers’ ratings causes/reasons for dropout was significantly higher than those of students. The comparative mean score results, which one of out- of- school and in-school related factors exert the strongest influence students to drop out; the result indicates that in-school and school related factors were exerting the strongest influence that forced students to dropout in the study area. Based on the findings, the following recommendations were forwarded; the government, the school, the community and all of the stakeholders/concerning bodies should collaborate/team up to work together to assist students on the verge of dropping out to remain in school and solve drop out problem at each grade level to realize the millennium development goals and assuring quality education for all citizens.
Keywords: Determinants, students, dropout rate, primary schools. | | --- | | E-mail: [asratboza@yahoo.com. Tel:](asratboza@yahoo.com. Tel:) +251918802448. Fax: +251(058)220-59-32. | INTRODUCTION Education is a cornerstone of economic growth, social development and principal means of improving the welfare of individuals. It is also the basis for reducing poverty and inequality, improving health, enabling the use of new technologies, creating and spreading knowledge. Scholars also, affirmed that, education is a key to development of the economic, social, scientific and political institutions of nation states (Lockheed and Verspoor, 1991) . Primary education as the gateway to higher levels of education must be the first priority and the foundation of secondary and higher education (World Bank, 2009) . Accordingly, the Government of Ethiopia introduced a series of educational policies and strategies between 1994 and 2006. Most of them were focused on increasing access to education at all levels, with a special focus on the expansion of primary education. In line with this, Ethiopia has just launched its fourth Education Sector Development program (ESDP IV), which aims to build education as a major support of the economic development of the country. The effectiveness of such human development depends upon whether the education produces skills that can be used productively in the economy. In other words education cannot be measured solely in years of enrollment. What matters Is, what students learn, retain, and apply in life. Education can enhance development when it is “relevant an

FAQs

What was the purpose of the study on dropout in Awi Zone primary schools?

To examine determinants of students’ dropout rate in seven second-cycle primary schools in Awi Zone.

Which research design and data collection methods were used?

A descriptive survey research design was adopted, using questionnaires and interviews with teachers, principals, parent-teacher association representatives, and students who had dropped out.

What analytical approach helped identify key dropout determinants?

Quantitative data were analyzed using percentage, mean, and independent t-test, while qualitative data were analyzed using themes and categories.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Stanford