Students Perceptions on Determinants of Dropouts from Colleges

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the differential effects of three major factors causing dropout of students from private higher education and training colleges. Using simple random sampling, a sample of 258 students from private colleges in three provinces were selected and used for the study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on students’ perceptions regarding the magnitude to which distinct factors cause dropout from college. The differential effects of the three major factors on college dropout was analysed using the General Linear Model based univariate ANOVA technique. The F (2, 258) statistic (= 4.039; p < 0.05) and the Tukey HSD and Games-Howell post-hoc results indicate significant differences between the effects of institutional factors and socioeconomic status. The mean scores results demonstrate that socioeconomic status had the highest significant effect; followed by student-related factors; while institutional factors had the least effect on dropout.  

KEYWORDS: Dropout, student-related characteristics, institutional factors, family socioeconomic status