A RESEARCH REPORT SUMITTED TO THE GLOBAL HISTORY LAB PRINCE STON UNIVERSITY IN
PARTIAL FULLFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF CERTIFICATE IN HISTORY OF
THE WORLD OF (CENTER FOR RESEARCH IN ARTS, SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES)
UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
AUGUST 2024
DECLARATION
I Chothum Emmanuel, declare that the information in this report is my own, best of my knowledge
and that’s my original work and no part of this has been ever used by other institution.
Signature………………………………………………. date………………………………………
Chothum Emmanuel
APPROVAL
This is to certify that the research report of chothum Emmanuel has been under the supervision and
approved for submission to the college of arts, social sciences and humanities university of
Cambridge.
Signature ……………………………………………….. date……………………………………………
m/s Elvira Tamus
This report is dedicated to My lovely brother Aldo Okwenuru, our kind and lovely teacher, m/s Elvira
Tamus, my father, mother, and all my friends who were very supportive during my course.
ACKNOELEDGEMENT.
Thanks goes to almighty GOD who offered us the good health and knowledge, M/S Elvira Tamus for
the support and guidance throughout my research work and all other persons who provided relevant
support, during the course and the distant e-learning.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION………………………………………………………………………………………..i
APPROVAL…………………………………………………………………………………………….ii
DEDICATION…………………………………………………………………………………………..iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT…………………………………………………………………………..IV
LIST OF ACRONYMS………………………………………………………………………………V
LIST OF TABLES…………………………………………………………………………………………VI
ABSTRACT…………………………………………………………………………………………….
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………………………..1
1.1 Background to the study……………………………………………………………………..1
1.2 Statement of the study………………………………………………………………………….2
1.3 Purpose of the study………………………………………………………………………………3
1.4 Objective of the study……………………………………………………………………………..3
1.5 Research questions………………………………………………………………………………….3
1.6 Scope of the study…………………………………………………………………………………….4
1.6.1 contextual scope …………………………………………………………………………………..4
1.6.2 geographical scope…………………………………………………………………………………4
1.6.3 time scope……………………………………………………………………………………………..4
1.7 significance of the study………………………………………………………………………………….4
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW………………………………………………………………………………………………6
2.0 introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………….6
2.1 review of related literature…………………………………………………………………………………6
2.2 causes of school drop out……………………………………………………………………………………6
2.2.1 parents’ participation on girl child drop out of schools……………………………………………7
2.2.2 indiscipline cases and girls’ drop out……………………………………………………………………..7
2.3 impact of girls’ school drop out…………………………………………………………………………………9
2.4 effect of girl child school dropouts to the community…………………………………………………..11
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3.0 introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………………14
3.1 research design……………………………………………………………………………………………………..14
3.2 area and population of the study………………………………………………………………………………14
3.3 sampling procedure…………………………………………………………………………………………………14
3.4 sample size……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….14
3.5 data collection instrument………………………………………………………………………………………………15
3.5.1 interviews……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………15
3.5.2 questionaire…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..16
3.6 reality and validity……………………………………………………………………………………………………..16
3.7 ethical consideration…………………………………………………………………………………………………….16
3.8 data processing ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….17
3.8.1 editing and spot checking…………………………………………………………………………………………..17
3.8.2 coding…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….17
3.9 data analysis……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….17
3.10 limitation of the study…………………………………………………………………………………………………18
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION, INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS……………………………………………………………..19
4.0-chapter review………………………………………………………………………………………………………………19
4.1 social demographic characteristics……………………………………………………………………………………19
4.1.1 Age of the respondant…………………………………………………………………………………………………..19
4.1.2 marital status………………………………………………………………………………………………………………20
4.1.3 sex of the repondant……………………………………………………………………………………………………..20
4.1.4 educational status………………………………………………………………………………………………………..21
4.2 causes of girls’ school drop in opok primary school kiryandongo district ………………………………22
4.3 effects of girls’ school drop out in opok primary kiryandongo district…………………………………….22
4.4 solutions to girls drop out in opok primary kiryandongo district…………………………………………..23
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSION, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMENDATIONS……………………………………………………………..24
5.0 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………24
5.1 discussion of findings…………………………………………………………………………………………………….24
5.2 conclusion …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………30
5.3 recommendation……………………………………………………………………………………………………….31
5.4 areas for further research…………………………………………………………………………………………….33
REFERENCES…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….34
APPENDICES……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..35
APPENDIX I: QUESTIONAIRE TO MATURE RESPONDENTS……………………………………………………….35
APPENDIX II: QUESTIONAIRE TO GIRL SUDENTS…………………………………………………………………….37
APPENDIX III: BUDGET………………………………………………………………………………………………………..39
LIST OF ACRONYMS
UPE. UNIVERSAL PRIMARY EDUCATION
UNEB. UGANDA NATIONAL EXAMINATION BOARD
UNICEF. UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION FUND
AIDS ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME
HIV HUMAN IMMUNE VIRUS
UNDP. UNITED NATION DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
NGO. NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIASTION
PTA PARENTS TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION
P/S PRIMARY SCHOOL
STI SEXUAL TRANSMITTED INFECTION
MES MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SPORTS
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: age distribution of respondenty………………………………………………………………………19
Table 2: marital status……………………………………………………………………………………………….20
Table 3: sex of respondant…………………………………………………………………………………………..20
Table 4: Educationational level of respodents…………………………………………………………………21
Table 5: causes of girls’ school drop out in opok p/s kiryandongo district…………………………….22
Table 6: The effects of pupils’ school drop out in opok p/s kiryandongo district…………………..22
Table 7: solution to the girls’ school drop out in opok p/s kiryandongo district………………………23
ABSTRACT
This study research was carried out in opok primary school in kiryandongo district purposely to
investigate the causes and effects of school drop out in the school. The research had a guided
objectives which include the following; find out the causes of school drop out in opok p/s, find out
the effect of school drop out on the girl child and also find out the mitigation to school drop out. To
get a qualitative data few respondents were sampled which included the teachers, the pupils, the
political leaders, and the local members of the community (parents and few stake holders). Interview
and questionnaire were designed to collect the data.
Common findings were; little interest by both parent and pupils towards education, low economic
development in the community, increased numbers of conflict with law, poverty, chronic sickness,
poor roads and far distance to school, corporal punishment, child labor were the common and major
causes of school drop out in kichwabugingo parish and sub-county and this resulted into teenage
pregnancies hence early marriage, high level of criminology, increase in the level of illiteracy, poor
health among teenagers , wild spread of sexual transmitted diseases especially HIV/AIDS, increase in
domestic violences among others as the effects. Besides this construction of more schools has been
put in place, parental and community involvement in education, stopping corporal punishment,
parenting, introduction of UPE in primary schools as education for all, short vocational course has
also been introduced to equip some drop out with basics skills in different fields, lunch provision and
accommodation of pupils in schools are some the of mitigation strategies to school drop out.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Back ground.
School drop out started long time ago but was not so much rampant and known in early times of the
19th century than now days, this is because the education curriculum and the system was made in
away that suits every one’s ability and interest. In the early 19th centaury, the government could
meet some of the basic requirement like provision of scholastic materials for the pupil leaving the
parents fewer responsibilities of providing few things to support their children’s education, still
education was looked at as being one of the major socio-economic transformation mean and this
discouraged any form of school drop out by the early the times, looking at the educated as the only
community and society helper also helped to cab down the drop out rate by the 19th centaury. All
these changed after liberation of the state and acquisition of independence where individual started
depending on themselves to provide every thing to support their children’s education and this led to
increase in the drop out rate due high poverty rate and unemployment of some parent.
The introduction of free education by the ministry of education and sports in 1997 led to increase in
the enrolment of pupils leading to overcrowding in classrooms in UPE schools and this has led to
poor monitoring/supervision and evaluation of pupil by teachers due to high pupil ratio to teachers
ratio, shortages of space, shortage of instructional material, over crowding also causes air borne
diseases like cough and flu leading to poor performance, the free education under UPE aims at
providing universal and basic education for all citizens. Other prevailing circumstances that is
attributing to school drop out now days include the indiscipline of children and child labour.
1.2 statement of the problem.
The introduction of UPE in 1997 with its intention of enabling all pupil attain basic education and
complete their primary education and to today opok p/s and kichwabigingo sub county the drop out
rate remains high due to some of the issues mentioned in the background. However, no systematic
study has been done to address the problems of school drop out in the stated area.
1.3 purpose of the study
The main purpose of this study was to find out the causes and the effects of the girl child school drop
out in opok p/s kiryandongo district.
1.4 objective of the study
-To find out the causes of school drop out in the community of opok p/s and opok village
kiryandongo district Uganda.
-To find out the effects of school drop out in the community opok p/s,opok village, kiryandongo
district Uganda.
-To suggest strategies /to find out the solution to the problems of pupils drop out the area.
1.5 Research questions
– What are the possible causes of school drop in opok p/s?
– What is the effect of school dop out to the pupils of opok p/s?
– what could be the possible solution the causes and effect of the above problems?
1.6 scope of the study
1.6.1 contextual scope
The research was only limited to the causes and effect of school drop out in area of opok p/s, opok
village kichwabugingo sub-county kiryandongo district only.
1.6.2 Geographical location
I chose the area for my study simply because of its easy access and location along the main road
along Kampala -Gulu high way in between the area of katulikre trading center and chopelwor
treading center near to our home.
1.6.3 Time scope
This research covered a period of 4 months due to its significance.
1.7 significance of the study
-This research is of great importance to the educational administrators, planners and policy makers
to know the causes of school dropout besides identity of the solution to the problems.
-it also helps in getting ample space/ground for the NGO’S, school heads and other services aimed at
addressing the causes and effect of students drop out among the families, school and community.
– this study also helps to make the public aware of the causes, effects and solution to the pupils drop
out.
– its significant because it gives a clear vision to the researcher to make more analysis on this
problem.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW.
Introduction
I looked at what other researcher has earlier talked about; this was aimed to achieve the identity to
the problem matter. looking into their work and the resources made helped me build more
understanding on school dropout which seemed to be a global issue but however each country has
its education system which help to reduce on the subject matter being explained.
2.1 review of the related literature review.
Research consistently shows that children from low-income backgrounds are more likely to drop out
from school (NCES,2020, UNESCO, 2019) poverty limits access to resources, increases stress and
reduce the opportunity for academic success (HAVEMAN AND SMEEDING ,2006), academic struggles,
poor academic performance, lack of support and learning difficulties contribute to drop out
(BALFANZ AND BYRNES ,2012) NAKANYIKE KASENTE AND BLIHUTA 2002, data survey 2001. save the
children fund in 2002. Ministry of education and sports indicates that school dropout in all
government aided schools in primary is higher than in secondary school and more girls tends to drop
out at this stage.
2.2 causes of girls’ children school dropout.
2.2.1 parents’ participation in girl child drop out of school
In relation parents have also greatly contributed to the drop out of the girl child from school through;
– engaging the female children in domestic work leaving them no time to attend education.
-poverty at family level leading low provision of basic needs for the girl child leading to drop out.
– engaging their children in early marriage forcing the girl child to drop out school.
-gender biasness where parents are valuing the male child leading to reduced investment in the girl
child hence drop out.
-parents not addressing bullying concern or social issues affecting girls’ education, defilement, rape,
having traditional mindset of not valuing education among many others are all contributors to girl’s
child dropping out of school.
2.2.2 indiscipline of girl child leading to dropout in school.
Indiscipline refers unpreferable /unwanted behaviors and this have affected the education of the
girls’ children in the following ways;
-it has led to low focus on education by the girl child and increased risks of school dropout.
-frequent absenteeism leading to missed classes and falling behind and eventual dropout.
-substance abuse engagement by some girls leading to addiction and health problem and eventual
drop out.,
-influence of peers and associating with the undisciplined fellow leading to negative influence
causing school dropout.
-lack of time management causing the girl to fall behind in school work leading to dropout.
Poor academic performance, loss of interest, by the girl child has also contributed drop out among
many others.
2.3 impact of girlchild school drop out
Impacts are both positive and negative, below some the impact of the girl child drop out to the girls
themselves;
-it has led to increased vulnerability, limited future opportunities, poor health outcomes, it increased
violence rate like sexual violence, domestic violence,
-it also led to the perpetration of poverty, it increased mental health concern, reduce self-esteem
and reduced civic engagement in communities and societies due to low knowledge and eligibility to
perform and complete tasks. However, the positive impact remained undiscussed due its low
magnitude equivalence.
2.4 effects /impacts of school drop out to the community.
The effects of the girl’s child drop out to the community briefly highlighted below,
-It has led to reduced community development, loss of talents and innovation, increased burden on
social services, perpetration of gender inequality, negative modeling behavior, increased social
burden among many others.
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY.
3.0 introduction
In this section I will highlight on the research design, research area, population, research instrument,
data collection methods that were used and analysis of the data collected.
3.1 research design
A descriptive survey design was used because of the information were mostly got from the field and
qualitative and quantitative analysis tool was used to examine the context of the information
collected on the topic.
3.2 Area and population of the study
The research study was conducted to find out the causes and impacts of school dropout to the
community and the population ranges between 40,000 -50,000, this includes;
the teachers, pupils, parents, political leaders and some other chosen personality.
3.3 sampling procedure
Both random and guided sampling were used for specific reasons of qualitative and quantitative data
collection.
3.4 sample size.
I used a sample size of 30 respondents and this represented the rest of the community according to
gender, age group and marital status.
3.5 instruments for data collection.
Interview guide, questionnaire, and observation were used to collect primary data from the field and
the study covered the primary pupils in opok village opok primary school, kiryandongo district.
3.5.1 interviews
The interview involved face to face interaction with respondent, structured and unstructured
interview were conducted with the specific category of people.
3.5.2 questionnaire.
I used both open ended questionnaire where the respondent feels free to feel and respond to the
questionnaire, and close ended which target the uneducated where questionnaire was read and the
respondent are provided with a yes or no options of responses.
3.6 Reliability and validity
I used open ended questions and closed ended questions and the questions set had enough space to
give appropriate responses. Irrelevant questions were deleted and removed from the tool.
3.7. ethical consideration
Consent was generated from the school authority and other support from the office of whitaker.
Introductory letter was got from the stake authority and before the start of every interview a briefing
is always done on the objectives of the study.
3.8 Data processing.
3.8.1 editing and spot checking.
Spot checking and editing were done after interview with every respondent to ensure quality and
accurate data and avoid errors.
3.8.2 coding
All responses from a respondent were coded for easy analysis.
3.8.3 data analysis
The questionnaire data were copied and analyzed by tallying it and tabling in the frequency for easy
evaluation. The recorded data was edited to ensure uniformity and legibility.
3.9 limitation of the study.
Below are some the factors that made study challenging.
-Refusal, hostility and rudeness by some respondents that made me scared limiting me from being
open and free with them
-shy respondents also affected my research because I could not extract more information from them.
-financial constraints was also another challenging factor that discomforted my study.
However, adherence to the tight budget, humble talking and convincing the respondent made me
overcome all these.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION.
4.0 CHAPTER REVIEW.
This contains the back ground of information of the respondents and the findings of research
objectives.
4.1 social demographic characteristics.
4.1.4 age of the respondents.
Age group frequency percentage
Below 20 6 20
21-29 10 33
30-39 5 17
40-49 5 17
50 and above 4 13
Total 30 100
4.2 marital status
Marital status frequency percentage
Married 10 33
Single 6 20
Widow 10 33
Widower 4 14
Total 30 100
4.1.3
Sex of the respondent
Sex frequency percentage
Female 18 60
Male 12 40
Total 30 100
4.1.4 educational status of respondents
Educational level Frequency percentage
Uneducated 4 13.3
Primary 4 13.3
Secondary 6 20
University 06 20
Tertiary 06 20
Others 04 13.3
Total 30 100
4.2 causes of school dropout in opok p/s kiryandongo district Uganda
Responses Frequency percentage
Poverty 10 33
Corporal punishment 6 20
Chronic sickness 4 13.3
Long distance to school 6 20
Lengthy learning time 4 13.3
Total 30 100
4.3 the effects of school drop out of girl child in opok p/s kiryandongo didtrict.
Responses Frequency Percentage
High crime rate 6 20
High illiteracy rate 6 20
Early pregnancy 8 27
Early marriage 10 33
Total 30 100
4.4 solution to the problems
Responses Frequency Percentage
Build more schools 10 33
Compulsory education 4 13.3
Free education 5 17
Reduced learning hours 8 27
Provision of lunch in schools 3 10
Total 30 100
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.0 introduction
Here I will talk about the findings, discussion and conclusion
5.1 discussion and findings
Refer to table or go table 4.2
5.2 conclusion
The need to curb down school drop has been so many times addressed and examined by different
stake holders in relation to the prevailing importance of education to the citizen of Uganda, the
Government and its different bodies and stake holders should undertake possible measures to see all
its citizens attain education.
5.3 recommendation
Parents, community, government and all other possible intervention should be undertaken to reduce
school dropout.
REFERENCES
Oneks.et al 2007 school management administrator head of teacher vol. kampala p1-10
Ssekamwa b et al 1993 education development and administration in Uganda 1900-1993 longman
Uganda kampala pg 44-89
Finn, j.d.(1989).withdrawing from school. Review of educational research ,59(2),117-142
Johnson, s (2009).school climate and student engagement .journal of education
psychology,101(3),161-182.
UNESCO(2019).Global education monitoring report 2019:Migration, Displacement and
education.United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.
Ladson -Billigs , G. (1995). But that is just good gteaching. The case for culturally relevant pedagogy .
Theory into practice, 34(3)159-165.
APPENDICES
1 questionnaire for mature person
Note. Am CHOTHUM EMMANUEL, student of Cambridge university pursuing a certificate in arts and
humanities. Am carry out this research on the causes and effect of school dropout in my community
of opok p/s kiryandongo district. I request you provide me with any necessary information and the
information will be confidential.
Tick beside where necessary.
1.Sex
A) male …………………… b) female……………………….
2.age
Below 20…………………
20-29…………………..
30-9…………………….
40-49……………………….
50 and above………………………
3 marital statuses
Married………………………single…………………… widow……………………. Widower……………………
4. religion
Catholic …………………………. Protestant………………………. Muslim……………………………………….
5 educational level
None…………………. primary …………………secondary…………………… post-secondary…………………………….
Section b
1. do you have a child?
Yes………………………. No…………………………………….
2. have your children ever dropped out?
Yes no
If yes, or no state why?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Section c
1) what do you think are the major cause of school dropout in opok p/s?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
2)what do you think are the effects of school dropout opok p/s?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3) what do are the solution to school dropout in opok p/s?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Appendix 2
questionnaire to student
Note. Am CHOTHUM EMMANUEL, student of Cambridge university pursuing a certificate in arts and
humanities. Am carry out this research on the causes and effect of school dropout in my community
of opok p/s kiryandongo district. I request you provide me with any necessary information and the
information will be confidential.
1. tick besides the necessary
Sex
Male ………………… female………………………
2. age
1-5…………………… 6-10………………….. 11-15…………………………. 15-20………………………
3.class of study
p.1-p.2…………………. p.3.-p.4 …………………… p.5-p.7…………………
4. religion
Catholic…………………… protestant……………………………. Muslim…………………………
Education level
Nursery ……………………… primary……………………… secondary …………………
Section b
1 ) do you enjoy free education?
Yes……………………… no…………………………..
2) have you ever dropped out of school?
Yes……………………..
No………………….
If yes or no state why?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
SECTION C
3. what are the causes of school dropout in opok p/s kiryandongo district?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4) what are the effects of question of school dropout in opokp/s kiryandongo district?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
5) what are the solutions to school dropout in opok p/s kiryandongo district?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
APEENDIX 3
Budget estimate
Items Cost (ugshs)
Stationery 80000
Transport 100000
Data and airtime for communication 100000
Typesetting and binding 50000
Photocopying 10000
Miscellaneous 40000
Total 380,000
