TITLE:
Factors Contributing to Adolescent Boys’ Dropout Behaviours in Upper Primary School in Wau Municipality
AUTHORS:
Cleto Ireneo Kunda
KEYWORDS:
College of Education, University of Bahr El Ghazal, Adolescent, Drop Out, Behaviour, Upper Primary School
JOURNAL NAME:
Psychology,
Vol.16 No.12,
December
29,
2025
ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to examine the factors influencing adolescent boy school drop-out behaviours in upper primary schools in Wau Municipality, South Sudan, so that effective strategies can be developed for improving the situation in Wau Municipality. The study was guided by the following objectives: to examine the factors influencing adolescent boy school drop-out behaviours in upper primary schools in Wau Municipality, South Sudan. The population consisted of 407 adolescent dropout boys’ households. This study was descriptive and quantitative. Data was collected using questionnaires (android-based data capture for primary data). Sampling was a mix of participant based, multistage and clustered, utilizing Population Proportional to Size (PPS) design, with cumulative and convenience selection of primary respondents. The study adopted standardized questionnaires administered to dropout boys and their parents. Secondary data sources included materials from library research, including from archives of Western Bahr el Ghazal State, Ministry of General Education and Instructions. Data collected from the study was analysed using SPSS. Frequencies through descriptive analysis, Pearson’s correlation tests and multivariate/multidimensional analyses were conducted to identify the relationship between factors associated with school dropout among adolescent boys, with statistical significance set in all tests at less than 0.05 P-value. The study has shown that adolescent boys’ school dropout is influenced by a range of interacting factors, including peer group sexual relationships, family socioeconomic background, lack of parental involvement, conflict/civil strife and lack of quality teaching and learning materials and other interrelated compounding contributors. The study recommends that to reduce school dropout among adolescent boys, there is a need to support among others, a school dropout risk management system, including dropout prevention programs, trace and readmit programs.