Broader Area

Wastage is the major problem in educational institutions (Anwar and

Tahir,2012) Dropout is defined as leaving school without obtaining a high
school certificate or equivalent credential (McMahon,1998). These wastage
rates decreases in upper classes (Anwar and Tahir,2012). Secondary
education (IX-XII) is an important sub-sector of the entire educational system.
On the one hand, it provides the middle level work force for the economy,
and on the other, it acts as a feeder for the higher levels of education. Higher
education, which is expected to produce quality professionals in different
fields, hinges on the quality of secondary education. Secondary education is
a stage where a student enters adolescence. This is the most crucial stage of
life. The basic perceptions and modes of behavior start taking shape and
adjustment of problems with the new role in life assuming critical
significance (Anwar and Tahir ,2012).
Early dropouts in schools are a widespread phenomenon in developing as
well as in developed countries. Whereas in the OECD countries, almost 100%
of students enroll in secondary education and about 80% of them finish, in
Latin America only 50% of students enroll and less than a third of them
complete the school level (Carlson,2002).
The costs of dropout at schools are; the individuals suffer from reduced
earnings and lost opportunities due to no / low education level, whereas
significant social and economic costs to the nations as a whole (Rouse,
2005).

Core Problem
The reasons for dropout include difficult transitions to high school and
deficient basic skills of teachers. Among other reasons, low attendance or a
failing grade can identify future dropout, and in some cases as early as in
sixth grade (Jerald, 2006). In developing countries, an economic factor is the
dominant cause of school dropout. A student belonging to lower economic
status is about seven times more likely to have dropped out of high school
(NCES, 2010).

Research Objective
The study is to be carried out to explore the main causes of dropout at the
secondary level in the study area , district Gujranwala, Pakistan. (Applied,
exploratory).

References:
Carlson, B. (2002). Education y Mercado de Trabajo en Amrica Latina: u nos dicen las
cifras? CEPAL, Series Desarrollo Productivo, no.14.
Jerald.C, (2006). Dropping Out is Hard to Do, The Center for Comprehensive School Reform
and Improvement, Washington, DC.

McMahon, W. (1998). Conceptual Framework for the Analysis of the Social Benefits of Lifelong Learning. Education Economics, 6 (3), 309-346.

Rouse, C. (2005). Labor Market Consequences of an Inadequate Education, paper prepared

for the symposium on the Social Costs of Inadequate Education, October 24, New York.
Anwar ,M (2012). High Dropout Contributes to Low Literacy Rate in Pakistan: Comparison of
Dropout at H.S.S.C and College Level in Pakistan, September 21 , Islamabad.
NCES (2010). U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Digest
of Education Statistics, (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.