Dropout in general secondary education: Determinants of chronic absenteeism and dropout

This study aims to reveal the main determinants of absenteeism, chronic absenteeism and dropout among general secondary education students studying in Anadolu, science and social sciences high schools. Using exploratory sequential mixed method study, firstly, quantitative analyses were conducted on the absenteeism, chronic absenteeism and dropout status of all students who continue their formal education within the 12 year gradual compulsory education and, in more detail, general secondary education students, and then the interviews conducted with the dropout, chronic absentee and absentee participants were subjected to qualitative analysis. In the quantitative analysis section, comparisons and correlational analyses on the attendance of general secondary education students were included and CHAID analysis was conducted. These examinations and the analyses revealed that there are absenteeism, chronic absenteeism and dropout problems at the first grade level in primary schools, at the fifth and eighth grade level in secondary schools, and at the ninth and twelfth grade level in secondary education. At the same time the rates of absenteeism, chronic absenteeism and dropout rates among students in formal education in Turkey differ significantly across provinces and that there is a serious problem of regular school non-attendance in Eastern and Southeastern Anadolu regions, especially in Şanlıurfa. The examinations on the effects of some variables that are thought to affect the school attendance of general secondary education students on absenteeism, chronic absenteeism and dropping out of school indicated that absenteeism, chronic absenteeism and dropping out of school were higher among general secondary education students with low family income, studying in the ninth grade, low academic achievement, high number of siblings, low parental education level, coming from broken families and studying in Anadolu high school among school types. The results of the CHAID analyses presented that the determinants with the highest impact on absenteeism, chronic absenteeism and dropout were academic achievement, grade level, number of siblings, family income, school type and family situation, respectively. The results of the thematic analysis of the interviews in the qualitative dimension of the research, revealed that the participants became absent, chronically absent and disengaged from school due to personal, family, friends and school-related reasons.