CHAPTER I

The Problem and Its Background

This chapter presents the background of the study,
statement of the problem, conceptual framework, assumptions,
importance of the study, scope of the study, and the conceptual and
operational definition of terms used in this study.

Introduction

Education is the foundation of the peoples productivity in their
career that contributes to the economic growth of our country. One of
the present major problems in the Philippine educational system is the
increasing number of dropouts due to several reasons (Department of
Education 2008). Dropout rates have long been used as a central
indicator of education system productivity and effectiveness and of social
and economic well-being. Today, interest in the accuracy and usefulness
of these statistics is particularly important in determining reasons why
students are dropping out.

Dropping out is a temporary absence from school. Dropouts may
find themselves in a situation that leads them to leave school even though
they wish to complete high school or college. Personal circumstances,


family situation and temporary difficulties of either an academic or
financial nature may all make it almost impossible to attend school,
forcing them to leave school temporarily.

Examining the factors that cause the students of City College of San
Fernando, Pampanga (CCSFP) to drop out can shed light on possible
areas for improvement of the schooling system.

Statement of the Problem
This study would determine the reasons why CCSFP students are
dropping out despite of the free tuition fee that the college offers.

Research Questions:
1. How do the profiles of the drop-outs be described?
2. What are the dropout rates of Education, Business
Administration and Information Technology departments?
3. What reasons were revealed by the dropouts themselves?
4. What are the aspirations of the drop-outs?






Conceptual Framework








Figure 1. Research Paradigm. Different reasons such as teacher, academic,
personal, peer, and financial factors attribute to what causes students to drop
out. And once a student has been identified as dropout, he/she contributes to
the dropout rate of the school.
Assumptions
The following are the assumptions of the study:
1. That the responses of the dropouts are true reasons for dropping
out
2. That the data provided by the Guidance Office on dropouts are
correct

DROPOUT
RATE (%)



Importance of the Study

For School Administrators
This study would help the administrators to determine the dropout
rate of the school and the reasons of CCSFP students for dropping out.
Their knowledge will enable them to make early interventions to minimize
the number of drop out students.

For Guidance Counselors
This study can be used to validate the guidance records regarding
primary reasons of CCSFP dropouts in leaving the college.

For Faculty Members
This study would help them to identify students who have high
possibility of dropping out. Once identified, the faculty member may help
the students make a wiser decision regarding his/her schooling.

Scope of the Study
The study focused on the drop-outs of the City College of San
Fernando, Pampanga. It covered the academic years 2009 2010, 2010-
2011, 2011-2012, and 2012-2013.


The researchers focused on the dropouts and their reasons for
dropping out. In the absence of dropouts who are working abroad or in
other places, the researchers interviewed the guardian or parents.

Definition of Terms
Dropout a person who stops going to a school, college, etc.,
before finishing: a person who drops out of school (Wordweb,
2006). Operationally, a dropout is a student who stopped from
schooling, with or without exit interview.
Official Dropout someone who has dropped out of school and
dont have plans to continue studies (Wordweb,
2006).Operationally, official dropouts are students who undergone
exit interview with the Guidance Counselor.
Unofficial Dropout someone who has dropped out of school but
still plans on returning in the fairly distant future (Wordweb, 2006).
Operationally, unofficial dropouts are students who left the school
without any prior notice to the school.