School dropouts : a case study of thirty orang Asli children of Kampung Sungai Rasau Hilir, Puchong, Selangor

Abstract

This study attempts to find out the factors associated with school dropouts among the students of Kampung Sungai Rasau Hilir, Malaysia. Dropouts are generally associated with many factors which differ from one place to another. Students may leave school because of personality, societal and economic problems. This study is significant because it shed some light on the immediate and remote causes of school dropouts among the children of Kampung Sungai Rasau Hilir. By investigating the problems associated with school dropouts in Kampung Sungai Rasau Hilir recommendations can be made to overcome the problem. In the case of the Orang Asli many of them left schools because parents failed to support them financially. Other major factors that led children to leave school are laziness and lack of enthusiasm; they prefer learning skills in handicrafts and mechanics than formal learning. It was also found that many of the Orang Asli students failed in their final examination because they did not understand major subjects (i.e. subjects taught in English and Malay languages), while others wanted to work to support their parents. Divorce of parents is also another factor contributing to school dropouts. Many students of Kampung Sungai Rasau Hilir left school because their parents abandoned them while their mothers could not control them. Besides that the youths are not dedicated to their study because parents who should encourage them are not aware of the importance of education. Parents are found unconcerned about these issues due to their level of illiteracy.