Investigating The Causes Of School Dropout In Nine Years Basic Education Schools In Rwanda And Their Possible Solutions: A Case Of Rutsiro District

The purpose of this study was to investigate the causes of school dropout in nine years’ basic education schools in Rwanda and their possible solutions. Specifically, the study sought to examine students’ characteristics leading to school dropout in Nine Years Basic Education in Rutsiro District, to investigate school-based causes of school dropout in Nine Years Basic Education in Rutsiro District, to find out home-based causes of school dropout in Nine Years Basic Education in Rutsiro District and to find out possible solutions to school dropout in Nine Years Basic Education in Rutsiro District. The study was guided by Social capital theory and it adopted a mixed approach. The study was carried out in 10 selected Nine Years Basic education schools in Rutsiro District. The target population of the study comprised of 762 subjects including 672 dropout students, 10 headmasters, 10 DOSs and 10 Discipline Managers. The study used a sample of 60 participants including 30 dropout students, 10 headmasters, 10 DOSs and 10 Discipline Managers. The 10 schools were selected using systematic sampling; the sample size for students was selected using purposive sampling, the sample size for headmasters, DOSs and Discipline Managers was selected using census sampling technique. The data was collected using a structured questionnaire, interview and documentary review. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics (percentages, frequencies, means and standard deviation) and thematic analysis. The results were presented in tables, figures and texts. The findings revealed that the main causes of school dropout in Rwandan nine years basic education schools are from the student themselves (Negative attitudes towards schooling, Child labor, Unwanted pregnancies, juvenile delinquency, being an orphan, peer influence, poor performance), from the school factors (School manager’s indifference towards the problem of dropout, Lack of counseling services, harsh punishments) and from their families (Domestic violence, Poverty in the family, Irresponsible parents and Alcoholic parents). it was also concluded that possible solutions to the issue of dropout are: Sensitize parents to care for their children’s education, Develop prevention and intervention services at school, Set up and developing counseling and guidance services in schools, Provide rewards to students with good class attendance and Involve each school staff in fighting against school dropout.The study recommended that the Government of Rwanda should find out strong strategies to increase young people’s motivation to learning, continuously track all the people who are responsible for child labor and unwanted pregnancies among young children in Rwanda, punish seriously the school managers who remain indifferent towards the problem of school dropout, always be proactive in fighting against school dropout and ensure a joint effort or collaboration in fighting against school dropout. The study recommended that school managers should always involve all the school staff in fighting against ISSN 2277-7733 Volume 10 Issue 4, March 2022 SCHOOL DROPOUT Voice of Research | Volume 10 Issue 4, March 2022 | 154 school dropout. It was finally recommended that the Government of Rwanda and school managers should manage to put into consideration all the strategies to fight against school dropout emanated from the findings of this study. Key words: School dropout and Nine years basic education