Authors : Emekako Raymond and Ward Lesego
Abstract: The South African government expects all children to attend school daily and receive the best education. Learner drop-out is a threat to this aim in all South African schools. The purpose of this study was to examine factors that contributes to learner dropout in one secondary school in the Nkaka Modiri-Molema district of the North West Province. The theory that underpinned this study was Tinto’s model of retention. This study was conducted using the mixed methods approach, supported by the pragmatic philosophical assumption and the concurrent research design there by collecting data with the use of questionnaires and interviews. Questionnaires were administered amongst 180 grade 10-12 learners and 3 teachers were interviewed. Both statistical techniques and content analysis were used to analyse quantitative and qualitative data respectively. The main findings revealed that more learner’s dropout occur as they move up in grades, increasing dropout rates due to substance use, early pregnancy, poverty and lack of parental involvement. The study recommends that educators and parents show more interests in learner’s educational pursuits. Learners must also be constantly reminded of the benefits of what can achieved by staying in school.
Emekako Raymond and Ward Lesego, 2017. Contributing Factors to Learner Drop Out in a Public School in Ngaka Modiri-Molema District. The Social Sciences, 12: 459-466.