An investigation of factors responsible for the dropout rates at Gert Sibande FET College

Abstract

The study investigated the factors that are responsible for student dropout rates at Gert Sibande FET College. A random sampling method was used to select participants for this study. A quantitative approach was used in this study. Accordingly, data were collected using a questionnaire designed in a Likert scale format. The study was limited to students at Gert Sibande FET College’s two campuses, namely, Evander and Sibanesetfu. Subsequently, the findings revealed that socio-economic factors, institutional policies and funding strongly explain the prevalent dropout rates at these two campuses. It is recommended that, adoption of student centred funding model, cultivation of relationships between lecturers and students as well as restructuring learning schedules be factored in during policy development. The findings confirmed that these recommendations would help reverse continuous dropouts currently experienced at Gert Sibande FET College.