Proposed Dropout Reduction Project for Public Elementary Schools in the Division of Lipa City

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

It is true that the education of the child is not the sole responsibility of the school. It has to be in partnership with other agencies which believe that education is the best way to break the chain of poverty or improve human lives. However, facts showed that individuals and groups are contributory to the different situations that frustrate and disengage children in school. This situation holds true in different School Divisions in the country. In particular, in the Division of Lipa City, a great number of learners leave or drop out of formal schools each year. The researcher believes that there is a need to conduct a study involving pupils dropping out from school and to propose a dropout reduction project for public elementary schools.

METHODS

The study utilized descriptive method. The data-gathering instruments used were interview, questionnaire and Focus Group Discussion. The empirical data collected was treated using weighted mean and Standard Deviation, T-test to compare the assessment of the two groups of respondents and Chi squares for test of significance.

RESULTS

Among the factors that contribute to school dropout, pupil-related, family-related and community-related are relatively higher than school-related. The three groups of respondents agreed that reasons for dropping out rooted from families and academic challenges. They also agreed that lack of supervision, low parental involvement, perceptions of minimal interest of teachers and academic challenges are important variables that contributed to disengagement. According to them, absenteeism and lack of motivation to study prior to students' dropping out, is not an instant event but a process in the learners' life. They said further that the most essential role of parents in dropout reduction is involvement.

DISCUSSIONS

The status of dropout in the Division of Lipa City is alarming. Fostering pupil engagement must be a priority of the school principal in helping pupils stay in and complete school. On the part of the teachers, their most important role is that of ensuring the quality of classroom instruction since effective teaching practices are first line of defense. A dropout reduction project highlighting home-school partnership is proposed.