The influence of School Drop Out on the Academic Performance of Learners: Case Study of Emuhaya District Of Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine the impact of school drop out on academic performance of learners. The objectives were to establish the relationship between school drop out and academic performance of learners. The study also examined the causes of school drop out among learners. The study used across -sectional survey design to analyze both quantitative and qualitative. The researcher collected data from 3 schools with a population of 150 respondents. The researcher used a questionnaire instrument, observation and interview guide to collect data. The findings indicated that majority of the learners drop out of schools due to poverty, family breakdown, hunger, bad school experience, peer influence and diseases. The findings also indicated that learners who drop out of school come from divorced families and single headed families which greatly contribute to school drop out. The study recommended the government of Kenya to emphasize on free primary education and to support the learners from very poor families with _basic need such as food etc. The schools should also support learners with necessary reading materials such books to enable their stay in schools.