Indicators of Students’ Dropout from Schools As Perceived by Teachers in Calabar Metropolis of Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated indicators of students’ dropout from public secondary schools as perceived by teachers in Calabar Metropolis of Cross River State, Nigeria. This descriptive research raised and answered two research questions. The population of the study was 1,343 teachers in 26 public secondary schools. Stratified sampling technique was used to select 336 teachers that responded to a questionnaire titled “Indicators of School Dropout Scale (ISDS)”. The instrument was subjected to face validity and Cronbach Alpha reliability. The reliability index of .81. Descriptive statistics (Mean) was used for data analysis. The mean scores determined the acceptance or rejection of the rating items. In order to make decisions from results obtained, the criterion mean score of 2.5 was used. The results of the analysis revealed that teachers perceived household and school factors as associated with students’ dropout from secondary schools. Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that teachers perceived students dropping out from public secondary schools in Calabar Metropolis to be associated with household and school factors. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that poverty reduction measures should be strengthened in Calabar Metropolis to enable families get higher disposable income for the education their children/wards.