Understanding Why Youth Drop Out of School in South Africa

Out of school youth (OSY) are adolescents who have not completed their schooling and are not currently enrolled in school. This study sought to understand why learners drop out of school by interviewing 41 OSY (aged 13-20 years). Respondent Driven Sampling was used to recruit OSY. Content analysis was used to analyze the data. Gender differences were found in the reasons for leaving school. Males dropped out due to poor school performance, vocational aspirations, and social interactions at school. Females dropped out due to family-related reasons. In males and females, friends played a role in students dropping out of school. Participants who performed well academically left school to be with their OSY friends. Those who did not pass and had friends who progressed to the next grade also dropped out of school. Preventing students from early school leaving involves targeting the interpersonal, school and policy levels with gender-specific intervention.Understanding School Dropout Patterns in South Africa: Insights from Interviews with AdolescentsThe benefits of attending school until full completion include increased employment opportunities, skills development, reduced crime, and risky behaviour, equality, better health, and an increased sense of self-worth. With these benefits, preventing early school leaving is a global priority. This study investigated why learners drop out of school in South Africa, by interviewing 41 school dropouts between 13-20 years of age. The study found that males were more likely to leave school due to poor school performance or problems with their peers or teachers. Males also left school to pursue artisanal college training, with the aim of securing employment. Females were found to leave school due to caretaking responsibilities and financial insecurity. Participants who performed well academically left school to be with their friends who dropped out of school. Those who did not pass and had friends who progressed to the next grade also dropped out of school. Giving voice to adolescents who have dropped out of school gives us clues on how to prevent school dropout at the school, community, and policy levels. The study implications include the introduction of remote learning resources, exempting students from paying tuition fees, better tracking and tracing tools for school dropouts, and support for pregnant learners.