IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/edt/jsserr/v10y2023i2p223-232.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Exploring Academic Performance Leading to Engineering Students' Dropout in the Context of South African Technical Vocational Education and Training Colleges

Author

Listed:
  • PATRICK MAREME SEROKA

    (Department of Educational Leadership and Management, University of South Africa, South Africa)

  • MMALEFIKANE SYLVIA SEPENG

    (Dept Education Leadership and Management, University of South Africa, South Africa)

Abstract

The major goal of this study was to determine the root causes of a Technical Vocational Education Training College's high failure and dropout rates. A high dropout rate for engineering students has been experienced in the past few academic years and a survey was conducted to determine the reasons for this. Besides establishing the causes of high dropout, the study focused on the implementation of academic activities and strategies to minimize the high dropout rate. Social critical theory was the theoretical foundation for this investigation. Sixteen (16) participants were purposefully selected to participate in face-to-face interviews as a method of collecting relevant data. While data was being collected qualitatively through interviews, data analysis began and was continued on completion of the interviews from which transcriptions were made. Transcription was followed by coding to develop themes used as findings in the study. Findings showed that poor academic performance leads to a high dropout rate accompanies by a lack of teaching and learning resources, a poor living environment, the Covid-19 pandemic, financial challenges and a lack of expertise in mathematics and physical sciences. In response, the following recommendations were made develop policies to deal with and manage students' absenteeism; strict application of rules on admission policies which outlines requirements for enrolling engineering students; and improving methods of making resources available at the Technical Vocational Education Training College's.

Suggested Citation

  • Patrick Mareme Seroka & Mmalefikane Sylvia Sepeng, 2023. "Exploring Academic Performance Leading to Engineering Students' Dropout in the Context of South African Technical Vocational Education and Training Colleges," Social Sciences and Education Research Review, Department of Communication, Journalism and Education Sciences, University of Craiova, vol. 10(2), pages 223-232, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:edt:jsserr:v:10:y:2023:i:2:p:223-232
    DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.15254273
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://sserr.ro/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/sserr-10-2-223-232.pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.5281/zenodo.15254273?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Arfan Shahzad & Rohail Hassan & Adejare Yusuff Aremu & Arsalan Hussain & Rab Nawaz Lodhi, 2021. "Effects of COVID-19 in E-learning on higher education institution students: the group comparison between male and female," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 55(3), pages 805-826, June.
    2. Michael Rogan & John Reynolds, 2016. "Schooling inequality, higher education and the labour market: Evidence from a graduate tracer study in the Eastern Cape, South Africa," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 33(3), pages 343-360, May.
    3. Yi, Hongmei & Zhang, Linxiu & Yao, Yezhou & Wang, Aiqin & Ma, Yue & Shi, Yaojiang & Chu, James & Loyalka, Prashant & Rozelle, Scott, 2015. "Exploring the dropout rates and causes of dropout in upper-secondary technical and vocational education and training (TVET) schools in China," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 115-123.
    4. Mohajan, Haradhan, 2017. "Research Methodology," MPRA Paper 83457, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 15 Dec 2017.
    5. Charles Kivunja & Ahmed Bawa Kuyini, 2017. "Understanding and Applying Research Paradigms in Educational Contexts," International Journal of Higher Education, Sciedu Press, vol. 6(5), pages 1-26, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Guirong Li & Jiajia Xu & Liying Li & Zhaolei Shi & Hongmei Yi & James Chu & Elena Kardanova & Yanyan Li & Prashant Loyalka & Scott Rozelle, 2020. "The Impacts of Highly Resourced Vocational Schools on Student Outcomes in China," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 28(6), pages 125-150, November.
    2. Mohajan, Devajit & Mohajan, Haradhan, 2023. "The Responses of an Organization for the Increase in Wage Rates: Profit Maximization Cases," MPRA Paper 118238, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 10 Jun 2023.
    3. Saliha Anwar & Tayyaba Rafique, 2022. "Development Of Service Quality Scale In Online Higher Education," Bulletin of Business and Economics (BBE), Research Foundation for Humanity (RFH), vol. 11(1), pages 53-62, March.
    4. Kelzang Tentsho & Rhysa McNeil & Phattrawan Tongkumchum, 2019. "Determinants of University Dropout: A Case of Thailand," Asian Social Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 15(7), pages 1-49, July.
    5. Ahmad Abu-Al-Aish, 2021. "Using E-learning System in Jordanian Universities during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Benefits and Challenges," Computer and Information Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 14(3), pages 1-49, August.
    6. Ra’ed Masa’deh & Dmaithan A. AlMajali & Abdullah A. M. AlSokkar & Mohammad Alshinwan & Maha Shehadeh, 2023. "Antecedents of Intention to Use E-Auction: An Empirical Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-11, March.
    7. Mohamed Zine & Fouzi Harrou & Mohammed Terbeche & Mohammed Bellahcene & Abdelkader Dairi & Ying Sun, 2023. "E-Learning Readiness Assessment Using Machine Learning Methods," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-22, June.
    8. Dr Sidney Kawimbe & Ms Buumba Banda, 2023. "Qualitative Analysis of Early Pension Withdrawal in Defined Benefit Schemes: A Case National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA)," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 7(12), pages 1839-1860, December.
    9. Tawila Anamela & Nyawa Msidi Nyirongo & Chaponga Nguluwe, 2024. "The Effect of Rules of Origin on Regional Trade: An Analysis of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 8(4), pages 550-559, April.
    10. Luiz Maurício Furtado Maués & Felipe de Sá Moreira & Luciana de Nazaré Pinheiro Cordeiro & Raísse Layane de Paula Saraiva & Paulo Cerqueira dos Santos Junior & Olga Maria Pinheiro Pinheiro, 2022. "Impact on Education and Ecological Footprint as a Consequence of SARS-CoV-2 in the Perception of the Quality of Teaching Engineering Students in the Brazilian Amazon," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-17, August.
    11. Mohajan, Devajit & Mohajan, Haradhan, 2023. "Economic Investigation of Lagrange Multiplier if Cost of Inputs and Budget Size of a Firm Increase: A Profit Maximization Endeavor," MPRA Paper 117993, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 07 May 2023.
    12. Mohajan, Devajit & Mohajan, Haradhan, 2023. "Mathematical Model for Nonlinear Budget Constraint: Economic Activities on Increased Budget," MPRA Paper 117299, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 17 Mar 2023.
    13. Yu-Yu Ma & Jwu-Jenq Chen & Chia-Liang Lin, 2022. "Research on the Priority of Service Quality Index for Online English Teaching during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Dual Perspective," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(19), pages 1-24, October.
    14. Simon Bhekumuzi Khoza, 2020. "Academics’ “Why†of Knowledge-Building for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and COVID-19 Era," International Journal of Higher Education, Sciedu Press, vol. 9(6), pages 247-247, December.
    15. Zhang, Jie & Chen, Zhiguo & Altuntaş, Mehmet, 2022. "Tracing volatility in natural resources, green finance and investment in energy resources: Fresh evidence from China," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    16. Samina Zamir & Zhencun Wang, 2023. "Uncovering Covid-19, distance learning, and educational inequality in rural areas of Pakistan and China: a situational analysis method," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-13, December.
    17. Mohajan, Devajit & Mohajan, Haradhan, 2023. "Abdominal Elephantiasis: An Obstructive Disease Due to Extreme Obesity," MPRA Paper 117822, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 04 May 2023.
    18. John J. Oliver, 2023. "Scenario planning: Reflecting on cases of actionable knowledge," Futures & Foresight Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 5(3-4), September.
    19. Siwahla-Madiba, Nandipha Daphne & Costa, King, 2022. "Digital Transformation: Towards a model for competency-based governance of digital transformation for boards of directors in South Africa," AfricArxiv 9rhfu, Center for Open Science.
    20. Samuel Affran & E. N. Gyamfi & S. Odonkor, 2021. "The “Custrac Model”: Its Generic Practicality with a Twist in the Ghanaian Education," International Journal of Marketing Studies, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 13(4), pages 1-42, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Admission policy; enrolment; dropouts; inadequate resources; student attendance; certification; retention rate;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:edt:jsserr:v:10:y:2023:i:2:p:223-232. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Dan Valeriu Voinea (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://cis01.central.ucv.ro/litere/cadr_juridic/departament_comunicare_jurnalism_stiinte_ale_educatiei/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.