The Determinants primary education dropout in Malawi

Abstract

Education is considered a significant tool of reducing poverty and of promoting the standard of living of an individual, a household and, by extension, a society where one belongs to. In Malawi, since the government abolished the school fees in 1995, the enrollment rate at primary level sharply went up but soon after, not many students have survived to the completion of school. This paper investigates the determinants of dropout at the primary education level with socioeconomic factors given free education program. Using Malawian integrated household survey conducted between 2010 and 2011, logistic model analysis is adopted. It will present evidence that socioeconomic factors such as parents’ educational achievement and household wealth influence the chance of pupils dropping out of school. Among the factors, pregnancy has a significant impact on girls while higher number of siblings improves the prospects for success in completing primary school. Children are more likely to leave the school when the oldest sibling has dropped out before completion of primary school.