Chapter 1

The Problem

Introduction

Everyone needs education especially the youth because the more

education people have, the higher the standard of their living, and the better

life reaches. Education also offers a means to improve one’s life chances by

improving employment opportunities and making social connections to

others (Boundless Sociology, 2013). But some youth do not really

appreciate the importance of education for many reasons.

High drop-out rate is an issue faced by many schools nowadays. It

is widely recognized as a negative life event which is often followed by

further problems (Sweeten, 2004). Bonneau (2005) defined dropout as any

student who leaves school for any reasons before the graduation and

completion of a program of studies without transferring into another school.

Reasons for dropping out from school may range from pregnancy and

parenthood, early child labor, lack of moral and parental support, academic

struggles, to just being bored of going school.

According to dosomething.org (n.d.), every year over 1.2 million

students annually dropped out of high school in United States alone, and
about 25% of high school freshmen fail to graduate from high school on

time. An 8.1% of dropout rate was recorded in USA on 2009 (National

Center for Education Statistics, 2011). Members of racial and ethnical

minority groups dropout is at higher rate than white students, as do those

from low-income families, single-parent households, mentally disabled

students, and from families in which one or both of its parents did not

complete high school. Students at risk for dropout based on academic status

are those who often have a history of absenteeism, academic trouble, and

more general disengagement from high school life.

Students who dropped out from high school in USA are mostly to

be unemployed, homeless, have low-paying jobs, have children at a very

young age, and/or become single parents.

In the Philippines, some students who dropped out of school lacked

interests in school. However, it is found that these students have only less

time to discover their passions and interests because of poverty. Some cases

said that poor students’ school is different from an elite and education-

policy-maker school, their curriculum is too narrow. And mostly they don’t

include extra-curricular activities, but only focus on academic studies.

However, it cannot totally cater the needs of poor children (De Dios, 2007).
 In Napolan National High School, where the research will be

conducted, 4% of students dropped out of school in the school year 2017-

2018. The factors that pushed them to drop out of school are finances,

domestic and/or school affairs, and other individual-related factors.

The researchers’ purpose for having this study is to help find the

reasons why students dropped out of school and the consequences they

encountered in their life as a youth.

Theoretical Background

The theory that supports this study is the Social Control Theory of

Hirschi (1969). This theory focuses on the relationship between

delinquency and dropout. It also states that a youth’s delinquency is

inversely proportional to his or her social bonds.

Social bonds in school, according to Sweeten (2004), are

characterized by attachment to teachers, commitment to education,

involvement in school-related activities, and belief in the legitimacy of

school rules. Dropout from school entails a loss of all school-related social

bonds. To the extent that school-related social bonds are present before

dropout, social control theory predicts that dropout leads to decreased social
bonds and increased probability of offending. Jarjoura (1993) noted that

these interpretations of classical strain and social control theory, often used

by researchers to set up a simple test of the two theories, are not the only

possible interpretations. For example, if youths drop out in order to get a

job, get married, or have a baby, the strength of their social bonds in sum

may increase.

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to find the reasons why students drop-out of school

and its consequences in their life as a youth. This research will focus on the

Grade 10 students of Napolan National High School. Specifically, this study

will answer the following questions:

1. What consequences will the students face after being dropped out of

school?

2. Why do students drop out of school?

High School Dropout: Reasons and its

Consequences to the Student’s

Social Life
 Napolan National High School
Napolan, Pagadian City

Instruction: For the benefit of this research, answer the following questions

honestly. Rest assured your answer will remain confidential. You may

answer the questions in English, Filipino or vernacular. Please do not leave

any item unanswered.

1. What is your age and gender?

2. What grade level you have right now?

3. What is the marital status of your parents/guardians?

4. What was the most difficult part of high school for you? Why?

5. Did you participate in any extracurricular activities, such as music, dance

or even sports or after school programs, clubs, etc? Why or why not?

6. In your own opinion, what are the reasons why students being drop out

of school? Why?

7. Have you ever tried dropping out of school? If yes, why?

8. What were the consequences you faced after dropping out of school?

9. Do you think it is good to drop out in school? Why or why not?

10. Cite some solutions to avoid dropping out of school.