Factors Contributing to Secondary School Dropouts and the Dropouts’ Socioeconomic Profiles: Şanlıurfa Sample

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the factors that cause students drop out of school in secondary education.This is a descriptive survey study and the quantitative research method was employed. 2985 secondaryschool dropouts participated in the study and the data was collected through “Secondary School Dropout Questionnaire”.According to the findings, participants had to drop out because of financial problems, failure,absenteeism, enrolling to open education, family problems, disliking the school, having problems with teachersand administrators, studying for university entrance exam, health problems, marriage, the idea that attending theschool is unnecessary, migration, having to take care of parents in need, and disciplinary penalties. Based on thefindings, it is suggested that especially school administrators and teachers, all practitioners and decision-makersneed to give priority to school dropout problem. In addition, for student, teacher and administrators, curricularand extracurricular activities and programs to reduce school dropout should be prepared and put into practice.