Exploring the factors that influence junior high school students decision to dropout and return to school, a study in Jirapa Municipality in the North west of Ghana

Abstract

This present study investigates the factors that influence high school students’ decision to drop out of school, and why they return to school in the Jirapa Municipal in the Upper West Region. The study employed mixed methods approach comprising both qualitative and quantitative research techniques. Within the study sample, the researcher sought to explore how different social groups (i.e. sex) were affected by the menace of school dropout. The semi-structured questionnaire was used, where the researcher used the snowball sampling technique to reach 50 participants to respond to the questionnaire. Based on the responses to the questionnaire, a focus group discussion was organized. Two groups of six students and five teachers were recorded during the focus group discussion, transcribed and used for the study. The results findings revealed that high school students’ drop out of school is still rampant in the Jirapa Municipality, with the female high school students being at more risk of dropping out of school than their male counterparts. Also, results revealed that drop out as a result of family issues is more in the district followed by dropout as a result of school issues and finally, issues of the society had fewer occurrences. Based on the research findings, it is clear that high school dropout is still a canker in Ghana hence there is the need for more pragmatic governmental and non-governmental policies like provision of school uniform and books for high school students and establishing needy students’ fund for high school students who are really very needy and that will enhance the retention of students in school. On the aspect of school dropouts returning to school, the NGOs can use the snowball technique to identify these dropouts, help them solve their problems and encourage them to return to school.