Correlates of School Dropout in Ethiopia: Family and School Factors

Kassahun A. Admassu, Brown University

Low school enrollment and high dropout rate are the major challenges to Sub-Sahara Africa in reaching universal primary education. On the supply-side, school factors such as availability of textbooks, qualified teachers, sizes and qualities of classrooms, as well as distance to school are important determinants of school dropout. On the demand-side, family factors such as income, assets, family structure and incidence of illness and death(s) of parent(s) are the main factors that influence school completion rates. Nevertheless, the relative influence of these factors is not well documented for countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa. Using the 2004 nationally representative Welfare Monitoring Survey data from Ethiopia, I will examine the role of family and school factors in school dropout, and whether it varies by gender and region. Descriptive and multivariate techniques will be employed in the analysis. The result will help inform policymakers to tackle the problem using a holistic approach.