Dropout in Primary and Secondary School: A Global Issue and an Obstacle to the Achievement of the Education for All Goals

Overview & Synopsis

In the second of a two-part series, this paper looks at the global spread of school dropout and at the factors that keep elementary school-aged children outside education. In order to have a more complete picture of the dropout problem, it necessary to take into account pupils who do not continue their education beyond primary education or who drop out of school before the end of compulsory education (although they may have achieved a given level of education cycle). This is done by analysing the transition rate from primary to secondary education, which confirm the extent of early dropout in developing countries. Not only do a significant percentage of pupils fail to complete primary education, but a significant proportion of those who do complete this level of education do not pursue their studies. However, this observation needs to be relativised because not all pupils who discontinue their education after primary school drop out. (Contains 11 tables.) [For Part 1, see EJ990222.]