Students drop out of school for varied reasons. Much of the time we are unaware that the lists of causes why these students leave school may have something to do with situations or issues if handled correctly may eliminate or affect some of the behavior which the students experience. The critical problem is how to keep these students learn and stay in school.
Informal interview with students at risk of dropping out ( SARDO ) reveal the following issues in the family, individual , community and the school ( FICS ).
FAMILY
Most of the students who are at risk come from low income families. Some are asked to earn for a living during lean months. Parents cannot sustain the financial needs for student food, transportation and other support materials. Others, come from broken homes with either parents living separately or working abroad.
Parents of these students have poor academic attainments. Some do not readily seize theopportunity for free education. Some never ask whether their children attend classes or not. Coupled with financial difficulties these students suffered inconsistent or harsh discipline from parents. In this low economic income group there is the prevalence of neuro disorders among members.
INDIVIDUAL
The individual or SARDO are mainly males. In school they have short concentration span and limited attention to subjects. Peers labeled them as “ physically present, and mentally absent”. These students have in sufficient skills to cope with responsibilities and are not properly motivated to build their self-esteem. These children are easily lured by barkadas to go to gangs, drugs or sex and have the false sense of power and belongingness.
COMMUNITY
The community were one grow and live help balance individual behavior. Healthful relationships thrive in supportive communities where members feel secure and their properties are protected. Proliferations of malls, videos, machines, casinos, gambling dens and night spots contribute to social problems involving mostly youth offenders.
SCHOOL
With today’s practice of over – size classroom and practically lack of physical facilities interfere with the quality of education offered by schools. Students valuable time, learning is spent with limited materials and financial resources. Students failed to communicate with teachers; because of their busy lives teachers tend to devote quality time with students at the end of the day, the student finds the school boring.
The DORP Objectives
The increasingly popular tool to improve learning outcomes among school is the drop out reduction program. This program aims to reduce if not eliminate drop outs in school, strive to retrieve learners who are out of school and increase significantly the achievement level of the student-at-risk of dropping out.
By: OFELIA D. DE VEGA | Secondary School Principal II
