Assessment and profiles of primary school dropouts in Benin

While figures indicate that child enrollment is on the rise in Sub-Saharan Africa, primary school completion remains a development challenge that should not be overlooked. After the deadline of the Ten-Year Education Sector Development Program (PDDSE: 2006-2015), which aims to achieve systematic primary school completion by 2015, this study examines the level and profile of primary school dropouts among 12-17 year-olds in the Tchaourou district of northern Benin. From the data of a socio-demographic survey conducted in 2016 in this locality, it is established that more than one (01) out of ten (10) adolescents leaves primary school without successfully completing it. Young girls, children from poor households or those not residing in the family homes of their biological parents, children who are late to school or who are behind in their schooling (repeating grades) are, particularly, affected by the phenomenon. Moreover, the higher the educational level of the head of the household or the more urbanized the locality of residence, the less likely these dropouts from the primary education system are to occur.

Autorentext

Mouftaou AMADOU SANNI, doctor en demografía, es director de la Escuela de Estadística y Demografía y del laboratorio de investigación LaReSPD de la Universidad de Parakou. Especialista en "Población y Desarrollo", se ocupa de los temas de familia, escolarización, salud reproductiva, riesgos climáticos y cambios medioambientales.