Incident factors in school dropout in the educational centers of the Municipality of Choluteca, Honduras

Abstract

The objective of this article is to identify the factors that influence school dropout among students in the third cycle of basic education in the municipality of Choluteca, department of Choluteca, Honduras. It was a mixed approach study, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches. For the collection of information, instruments such as surveys and interviews were applied to school principals, teachers and parents in this municipality. The universe is made up of 3,148 students who attended the third cycle of basic education in 25 educational institutions. The sample included 145 students from all government schools in the municipality of Choluteca. The finite population formula was used to calculate the sample, with a confidence level of 95%. The sampling was carried out by convenience, selecting the participants or students who dropped out in the third school year of 2023. As main results, it was found that the predominant factors in school dropout identified and highlighted by parents and teachers are the economic situation, migration and the need to work. School principals, in addition to the same factors mentioned by teachers and parents, highlight possible communication gaps or divergent perspectives in the educational environment. Other important factors for school dropout are family disintegration and the need to enter the labor market at a very early age.