Original scientific paper

Reasons and Determinants of Early School Dropout

Ivana FERIĆ orcid.org/0000-0002-9725-9558 ; Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar, Zagreb
Goran MILAS orcid.org/0000-0002-7202-3338 ; Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar, Zagreb
Stanko RIHTAR orcid.org/0000-0002-1369-7148 ; Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar, Zagreb

Abstract

In order to obtain an insight into the problems that lead to
early school dropout, a large-scale qualitative and quantitative
research was conducted, by means of focus groups and
surveys, on representative samples of high school students,
their teachers and parents, and young people who dropped out
of school. The data revealed that most frequent reasons of school dropout include low academic achievement, lack of
motivation, discipline issues, and financial problems. Other
reasons, like early employment and inability to balance school
and work, or specific ones like illness, pregnancy or marriage
were cited less frequently. Regression analysis additionally
confirmed such results, indicating low school grades, grade
retention, low socioeconomic status and low level of mother’s
education to be the strongest predictors of early school
dropout. Cluster analysis identified three types of school
dropouts which differed in regards to their school achievement,
family sociodemographic characteristics, and reasons for
leaving school. The necessity to acknowledge the diversity of
school dropout was pointed out, especially in development and
adoption of prevention programs and help strategies.

Keywords

youth; education; school dropouts

Hrčak ID:

60107

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/60107

Publication date:

31.10.2010.

Article data in other languages: croatian german

Visits: 8.369 *