Determinants of Primary School Dropouts in Developing Countries

This paper utilizes data from 42 less developed countries to explore the relationship between social, political, economic and educational variables and variations in the dropout rate from primary schools. Regression analysis of the data leads to the following tentative conclusions. School systems with high rates of repetition also have high dropout rates over the primary cycle. This suggests that automatic promotion may reduce educational wastage. High fertility rates and a high degree of social tension in a society also deter the attainment of universal literacy, while increased urbanization and development of communications systems increase school continuation. There is some evidence that the economic returns to education are important determinants of school continuation in the later grades of the primary cycle and that characteristics of the school system itself are related to dropouts after the first year.