CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF DROPOUT AMONG UNDERGRADUATES IN NIGERIA

1.1 Introduction

School dropout refers to the untimely withdrawal from school. These students who withdraw from school prematurely end up not obtaining any certificate of graduation. The issue of school dropout is a global problem confronting the education industry round the world. According to Mohammed et al., (2017), student dropout is a serious problem for both students and the society. Understanding the factors of secondary student’s dropout of school is one of the key issues in addressing the social and economic problems that impede the progress of human resources utilization in developing countries (Mohammed et al., 2017). Completing secondary education is important to facilitate basic entry into employment, besides providing adequate foundation for further progress in an individual’s career, as well as enabling to interface with technological utilization (Fun and Wolters, 2014).

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitation of the study and Definition of terms.

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1.2 Background of Study

Education is an instrument for developing the nation. It is also an instrument for developing hidden talents in an individual. It is the only means of eliminating illiteracy in any society. The importance of education to the development of individual and the nation as a whole cannot be over emphasized. It is a great investment any country can make for accelerating development of its technology, economic and human resources.

Isife and Ogakwe (2012) explained that education is a powerful tool or weapon that can be used to eradicate ignorance, poverty, and diseases and produce individual that can function effectively in the society.

Onwuka (2012) pointed out that education is the instrument that is used to free people from incapacitation and exclusion. When an individual is freed from incapacitation and exclusion or illiteracy, there is usually a change in that person’s behaviour. This change influences the person’s attitude and his whole life (Apebende, 2013).

This study has come at a time when there is high rate of insecurity in the country as a result of criminal activities. Survey by both the print and electronic media tends to indicate that over 85% of the criminal activities perpetuated in Nigeria are done by youths who dropped out of school. This development has become a cause of serious concern to all well meaning Nigerians. This tends to suggest that our educational system is in trouble and thus needs a very serious attention in refocusing it and restructuring it for the attainment of national goals.

Cabus and Witte (2015) articulated that dropout is one of the most serious problems that have continued to bedevil our educational system since Nigerian independence. Even before our independence, the problem of dropout had already established its grip on our educational system. This study has come at a time when there is high rate of insecurity in the country as a result of criminal activities. Survey by both the print and electronic media tends to indicate that over 85% of the criminal activities perpetuated in Nigeria are done by youths who dropped out of school (Carlson, 2014).

Awwal (2015) categorized reasons why students drop out of school into four clusters that include; school related, Job related, family related, and community related. Awwal further identified a number of factors under each cluster as influencing student dropping out of school. The factors identified under family cluster include; low family socioeconomic status, low family support for education, low parental education, conflicts between work and school, having to work and school, having to work or support family, substance use and pregnancy among others.

De Cos (2005) commenting on the importance of graduation from higher institution noted that; with the economy changing from a dependence on manufacturing towards more reliance on technology, services, and a “knowledge economy”, the need for education up to tertiary level has grown. In Nigeria of today, Bachelor or Diploma degree from tertiary institution is considered as the minimum required for most jobs and status positions. This development has serious implications for the economic well being of dropouts and the society at large. In this era of global economic meltdown and global economic competitiveness, Nigeria as a nation that has vision must make concerted efforts to raise the educational attainment of all its youths who are the leaders of tomorrow.

Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Causes and Effects of Dropout among Undergraduates.

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1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that students tend to drop out of school due to successive poor grades. Students with records of poor academic performance are at a higher risk of dropping out than those with good academic profile. According to Sanda and Garba (2007), poverty and low educational attainment amongst the inhabitants of Lagos State of Nigeria have been rife and have presented a major challenge affecting negatively the education of secondary school students (Sanda and Garba, 2007).

The dropout problem is pervasive in the Nigerian education system. Many students, who enter school, are unable to complete secondary education and multiple factors are responsible for students dropping out of school. This study tends to correct the imbalance in research efforts on our knowledge of school dropout.

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1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to examine the Causes and Effects of Dropout among Undergraduates in Nigeria using Lagos State as a case study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To examine the effects of drop out among undergraduates in the study area;
2. To identify the causes of drop out among undergraduates in the study area; and
3. To determine whether prevalence of dropout among undergraduates in the area under review.

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1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• What are the causes of drop out among undergraduates in the study area?
• What are the effects of drop out among undergraduates in the study area?
• What is the prevalence of dropout among undergraduates in the study area?

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1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: Poor Students' academic performance is not one of the major cause of school dropout among undergraduates in Nigeria
• H1: Poor Students' academic performance is one of the major cause of school dropout among undergraduates in Nigeria

Hypothesis Two

• H0: There are no significant factors instigating school dropout among undergraduates in Nigeria
• H1: There are significant factors instigating school dropout among undergraduates in Nigeria

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1.7 Significance of Study

The results from the findings of this study will educate the undergraduates and the general public on the causes and effects of drop out among undergraduates. This study will also reveal the solutions to the issues of drop out among undergraduates.

This research will be a contribution to the body of literature in the area of the effect of personality trait on student’s academic performance, thereby constituting the empirical literature for future research in the subject area.

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1.8 Scope of Study

The scope of the research is focused on the causes and effects of drop out among undergraduates in Nigeria using Lagos State as a reference point. It will also cover the solutions to the menace of school drop-out in Lagos State.

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1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this research work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this establishment to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
3. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
4. Lack of Initial Cooperation from Respondents: A particular limitation of this work came as a result of the respondent refusal to offer their cooperation at the initial time they were contacted. This contributed in making the success of this research study difficult.

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1.10 Definition of Terms

School Dropout:

It refers to the untimely withdrawal from school. These students who withdraw from school prematurely end up not obtaining any certificate of graduation.