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Study On The High Dropout Rate At Adult Education Centres In Abu Dhabi |
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A study on the reasons for the high dropout rate in grade 12 at Adult Education Centers in Abu Dhabi has pointed the fingers at the economic and social factors in addition to educational reasons. The study prepared by Thuraya Khalifa Al Salmi and submitted as a dissertation in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Education at the Al Hosn University showed that 51pc of the total number of students at the Adult Education Centres in Abu Dhabi dropped out. The study also showed that social reasons accounted for 42pc of the total dropouts while economic reasons accounted for 30pc followed by educational reasons which accounted for nearly 28pc of all dropouts. The study pointed out that the drop-out issue is a big problem that faces the education system in the UAE, especially in the adult education centers. This issue contradicts the strategy of the UAE government of 2010-2011 which emphasized that "developing a high level educational system" is one of the main targets of the UAE strategy, through decreasing the drop-out averages. The drop-out phenomenon is a common problem in all adult learning centers in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. A survey conducted by Abu Dhabi Educational Zone, shows that drop-out rates among adult nationals in grade 12 are extremely high and steadily increasing, noted the study. It also said that family situations often affect a student’s decision to drop-out because family responsibilities or a negative learning environment prevent regular study time or attendance in classes. A family that does not support positive study skills and respect for learning would stand in the way of the student’s wishes. "Problems in the home such as divorce, lack of supervision or child care, noise from children, or available technology, such as an available computer and internet connection, can negatively affect the success and retention of students in school’, said the study. Looking generally at the economic reasons the Study said that economic situations have great effects on drop-out rates, especially in the developing countries where working times interfere with studying hours, in addition to a lack of incentives. "Family needs could be also an important factor as many students in the developing countries are of poor families who have to work all day and do not have time to think of learning and studying. Individual existence priorities override the need for education when one first must focus on the lowest levels of self-efficacy - food and shelter’, noted the study. The study also put forward a number of recommendations to solve the phenomenon including the improvement of the entire system of adult education. The researcher expressed gratitude to Professor Hassan Mustapha who supervised the project and to all those who cooperated with her to conduct the study including the officials from the Abu Dhabi Education Council, Abu Dhabi Media Company and the Adult Education Centres. |
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