Dropouts Issues and Its Economic Implications Evidence From Rural Communities In Ghana

Anselm Komla Abotsi, Ngmen Yag

Abstract

Education helps individuals fulfill and apply their abilities and talents and increases productivity in an economy. Dropping out of school at the basic level is a serious educational and social problem especially in the rural areas which is worth investigating. The study adopts a descriptive research design and employed quantitative research method. The sample size is a total of 50 households which were selected using systematic sampling technique. The study finds that the number of dropouts per community is relatively enormous. The total number of dropouts is 93 and this represent 55.4% of the number of children enrolled in school. The prominent factors identified to influence dropouts in this study, include poverty, low level of parental education, long distances to school and corporal punishment. The phenomenon of dropping out of school has serious socioeconomic implications such as unemployment and its related social vices, increased dependency ratio and child marriages in the rural areas. Holistic efforts of all stakeholders including the Ghana Education Service and school authorities, the parents and the students themselves should be involved in seeking solutions to dropouts.