Characteristics of dropouts among upper primary pupils: Teachers' perceptions

Abstract

Abstract: There is continued concern over the number of pupils who do not complete school and graduate. The dropout problem has persisted consistently for a period of time. This problem has attracted the attention of researchers and educators to seek alternatives in an effort to reduce it and encourage pupils to remain in school until they graduate. This study was set out to investigate characteristics of dropouts among pupils in upper primary in Nairobi Province as perceived by the headteachers and teachers. Second, the study investigated whether there was any significant difference between headteachers' and class teachers' perceptions towards dropouts on the specific selected variables: Socio-Demographic factors, Academic Achievement and Personal Behaviour of dropouts Third, the study elicited information and suggestions on how to solve the persisting problem of dropout among pupils In public pnmary schools. The literature related to this study was reviewed on areas related to the problem and study content was discussed. These areas include pnmary education enrolments and completion rates, causes and reason of education wastage among pupils/students in schools and studies re ated to the problem content done in and outside Kenya The concept of Educational wastage formed the theoretical framework of this study. The research design used was Ex-post facto. EX-post facto design was selected because it was difficult to control some independent variables considered in the study, because their manifestations had already occurred. Such variables include; age, gender and dropouts. The sample population of this study consisted of 80 headteachers in public primary schools in Nairobi Province, 320 class teachers. 82 dropouts and 80 parents/guardians of dropouts However 260 classteachers responded and returned completed questionnaires. This represented 81 per cent return rate while all headteachers returned completed questionna res representing 100 percent return rate.