Education remains the key to development in all countries. Thus, every country is making efforts to promote education for all. However, despite these efforts, the school dropout rate continues to rise. With this in mind, this research is carried out with the aim of analyzing the factors underlying the phenomenon of school dropout in rural and urban areas. Mixed research method was carried out on one hundred and six (106) participants identified using purposive and accidental sampling techniques. Due to the similar characteristics of the population and its unknown size (exact number of students who dropped out in the two municipalities being unknown), it was logical, for statistical reasons, to determine the size of this sample accordingly. Data processing was based on an analytical model inspired by Viau's (1999) theory of motivational dynamics and Ryan and Deci's (1985) theory of self-determination. The results research show that a student's environment necessarily influences his or her school life. School dropout in rural areas, unlike in urban areas, is more influenced by economic factors and those linked to the family circle. The identified specific factors imply policy decisions and interventions tailored to the needs of students in urban and rural communities.
school dropout, dropout rate, pupil, rural environment, urban environment
Anton, A. (2016). The CLAS: a track for school engagement? Salies de Béarn Communication, 5-24.
Bâ, A. T., Coundoul, A. A., & Thiare, M. (2020). Factors of secondary school dropout in Senegal: the example of the commune of Tambacounda. School Geography Laboratory, 68-121.
Baalmann, T., Brömmelhaus, A., Hülsemann, J., Feldhaus, M., & Speck, K. (2022). The impact of parents, intimate relationships, and friends on students’ dropout intentions. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/15210251221133374
Blaya, C. (2010). School dropout: Guilty parents, dropout parents? Social Information, 5(161), 2-67. https://doi.org/10.3917/inso.161.0046
Buop, A.O., Aloka, P.J.O. & Nyaswa, P. (2018). School based factors influencing drop out among primary school pupils in Kenya. International Journal of Advanced and Multidisciplinary Social Science, 4(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.5923/j.jamss.20180401.01
Dansou, J. (2017). Variations in school life expectancy and determinants of school attendance among 6-24-year-olds in Benin: An analysis based on 2002 census data. Quebec Demographic and Statistical Observatory of the Francophone Space/Université Laval, 61-125. https://www.odsef.fss.ulaval.ca/sites/odsef.fss.ulaval.ca/files/justin_dansou_rapport_final.pdf
De Saro, T. (2022). The impact of distance learning on nontraditional high school students’ attendance and dropout prevention. Theses and Dissertations. 1034. https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/etd/1034
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The “what” and “why” of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227–268. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327965PLI1104_01
Desai, R., Magan, A., Ruiter, R. A. C., Reddy, P. S., & Mercken, L. A. G. (2024). Understanding why youth drop out of school in South Africa. Sage Open, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231219080
Doll, J. J., Eslami, Z., & Walters, L. (2013). Understanding why students drop out of high school, according to their own reports: Are they pushed or pulled, or do they fall out? A comparative analysis of seven nationally representative studies. Sage Open, 3(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244013503834
Dupont (2010). Self-determined motivation of students in physical education: state of the question. De Boeck Higher Education, 2(88), 9-55.
Farah, N., Upadhyay, M. P., & Elliott, C. (2017). How are school dropouts related to household characteristics? Analysis of survey data from Bangladesh. Cogent Economics & Finance, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23322039.2016.1268746
Flavier, E. & Méard, J. (2016). The approach to school dropout according to culturalist theories of activity: Benefits and perspectives. Activity, 13 (2), http://journals.openedition.org/activites/2781
Gbahoui, J.-M. N. (2014). Social representations of the determinants of school dropout in the primary education district of Bonoua. University Review of Educational Sciences, (1), 2-86. https://www.revues-ufhb-ci.org/fichiers/FICHIR_ARTICLE_860.pdf
Guigue, M. (2003). School dropout boys and school. Educational Sciences – For the New Era, 36(1), 85-107.
Houngbedji, L. (2022). Distribution of school kits to thirty thousand schoolgirls and students: The Government and the SWEDD Benin project work for the retention of girls in school. Minutes of the Council of Ministers of October 5, 2022. https://www.gouv.bj/article/1937/distribution-kits-scolaires-30-mille-ecolieres-eleves gouvernement-projet-swedd-benin-oeuvrent-retention-filles-ecole/
Huisman, J., & Smits, J. (2015). Keeping children in school: Effects of household and context characteristics on school dropout in 363 districts of 30 developing countries. Sage Open, 5(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244015609666
INSAE, (2014). Transition of young women and young men from school to active life in Benin. Final report, 18-55. https://instad.bj/images/docs/insae-publications/autres/Transition-Jeunes-FH-ecoles-actif/rapport-analyse-etva2-Benin-2014_final.pdf
Karabo, M. & Natal, A. (2013). Factors influencing high dropout rates of girl child from education: A case study of black women in North West Province, South Africa. Journal of Social Development in Africa, 28(1).
Kouassi, A. M. (2016). Level of education, parenting style, and school resilience in deaf children from the Ivorian school for the deaf (ECIS). European Scientific Journal, 12(28), 224-322. https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2016.v12n28p219
Kpoholo, S. F. F. (2013). Reflections on school education in Benin: it is as if failure and school dropout have no solutions. Review of Educational Sciences, 52(3), 778-889.
Lacroix, M.-È., & Potvin, P. (2021). School dropout. 1-8. https://ancpe.com/2019/wp-content/uploads/ANCPE-lettre-avril-2021-Le-decrochage-scolaire.pdf
Laurier, F. & Yvon, P. (1999). Students at risk of dropping out of school: discriminating factors between dropouts and persisters. Review of Educational Sciences, 25(2), 234-375
Mackatiani, C.I., Mackatiani, N.I. & Owino, M.A. (2022). Transition in education: Perspectives on girls’ dropout rates in secondary schools in Kenya. London Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Sciences, 22(1), 41-51.
Mendiboure, M. (2010). School dropouts, a barrier to education in West Africa. https://mediatheque.agencemicroprojets.org/wp-content/uploads/guide_education_base.pdf
Ozdemir, N.K., Kemer, F.N.A. & Arslan, A. (2024). A qualitative study of unveiling school dropout complexity in Türkiye. Child Ind Res, 17, 1001–1021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-024-10116-7
Paul, R., Rashmi, R., & Srivastava, S. (2021). Does lack of parental involvement affect school dropout among Indian adolescents? evidence from a panel study. PloS one, 16(5), e0251520. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0251520
Raïma, A. A. (2022). School dropout in fundamental education in Mali: case of girls from public secondary cycle schools in the Kangaba circle, Koulikoro region. African Research (27), 198–212. https://revues.ml/index.php/recherches/article/view/2125
Reese, D. (2007). High school dropout: Educators’ knowledge of and perceived role in dropout prevention. Dissertations and Theses @ UNI. 1176. https://scholarworks.uni.edu/etd/1176
Roman, N.V., Davidse, P.E., Human-Hendricks, A., Butler-Kruger, L., Sonn, I.K. (2022). School dropout: Intentions, motivations and self-efficacy of a sample of South Africa youth. Youth, 2, 126-137. https://doi.org/10.3390/youth2020010
Sawadogo, Z. M. (2013). Analysis of the socio-economic determinants of school dropout among girls from peripheral areas of Ouagadougou city. https://www.memoireonline.com/09/13/7403/m_Analyse-des-determinants-socio-economiques-de-la-deperdition-scolaire-des-filles-issues-des-zones0.html
Sharma, S. & Levinson, D. (2019). Travel cost and dropout from secondary schools in Nepal. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 130, 385-397. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2019.09.010
Siabanni, (n.d.). Attachment and detachment during the primary-secondary transition in Benin, Gabon, Niger, and Haiti. https://apprendre.auf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Note-technique_projet_transco.pdf
Social Watch Benin & RIFONGA Benin (2020). Gender-sensitive budget note on early childhood and primary education 2020. 1-40. https://socialwatch.bj/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Note_Budgetaire_Sensible_Genre_Enseignement_Maternel_et_Primaire-2020.pdf
UNESCO – IIPE Dakar Pole, (2014). State report of the Beninese education system, Towards revitalizing education policy within the framework of the ten-year program for the development of the education sector. Benin National Team. https://www.iiep.unesco.org/fr/benin-rapport-detat-du-systeme-educatif-pour-une-revitalisation-de-la-politique-educative-dans-le
UNESCO. (2022). No child left behind: global report on boys’ school dropout. Program and meeting. Document consulted on February 5, 2023. https://www.unesco.org/fr/genderequality/education/boys#:~:text=%C2%AB%20Ne%20laisser%20aucun%20enfant%20de,’%C3%A9tant%20%C3%A0%20l’%C3%A9cole
Viau, R. (2002). Student motivation in learning difficulties: a problem for adapted intervention methods. Conference series “Difficulty in learning, Difficulty in teaching”. Luxembourg. https://www.reseaureussitemontreal.ca/la-motivation-des-eleves-en-difficulte-dapprentissage-une-problematique-particuliere-pour-des-modes-dintervention-adaptes/
Viau, R. (2004). Motivation: a condition for the pleasure of learning and teaching in a school context. 3rd Congress of Researchers in Education. Brussels. https://projetadef.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/la_motivation.pdf
Yahia, F.B., Essid, H. & Rebai, S. (2018). Do dropout and environmental factors matter? A directional distance function assessment of Tunisian education efficiency. International Journal of Educational Development, 60, 120-127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2017.11.004
Yin, C. (2005). Study of factors in primary school dropout in Cambodia (UQAC Thesis). https://constellation.uqac.ca/id/eprint/606/
Zeragaber, T.Y., Teame, G.T. & Tsighe, Z. (2024). Assessing the effect of home-to-school distance on student dropout rate in Adi-Keyih sub-zone, Eritrea. International Journal of Educational Research Open, 7, 100340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedro.2024.100340
Vital Ezéchiel Gbaguidi. Corresponding author. Doctoral, CEREID, University of Abomey-Calavi.
David Adetou. Community Development Specialist, Researcher at University of Abomey-Calavi
Cite this article:
Gbaguidi, V.E. & Adetou, D. (2024). Factors affecting school dropout: Comparative study of rural and urban settings. International Journal of Educational Management and Development Studies, 5(2), 233-256. https://doi.org/10.53378/353073
License:
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) International License.
