In South Africa children are legally obliged to attend school until the age of 15.
After they have turned 15 they are permitted to leave school if they choose to. Recently I have encountered several children who are just over 15 years of age and who have chosen to leave school.
Despite some children in South Africa continuing their education in colleges, etc. it appears that the majority of the group of children I have interviewed are not planning on continuing with any formal education.
Looking at research done on this topic it appears as if dysfunctional family environments are the biggest factor contributing to children leaving school at a very young age.
Unhappy households contribute to children experimenting with drugs, getting involved in gangs, pre-marital sex and a loss of interest in academics.
We are unfortunately looking at a vicious cycle. Due to their interest in dangerous activities, children are being reprimanded at school.
This leads to them becoming negative towards their teachers and peers, not achieving good academic results and eventually losing all interest in going to school.
A very big factor among girls leading to them leaving school before completing their education is teenage pregnancies.
Many girls are too ashamed to continue going to school and have to take time off from school in the weeks before the baby is born as well as afterwards. Many girls do not have supportive networks and are forced to drop out of school in order to care for their babies.
Research suggests that children who leave school at a young age and who do not continue with formal education is at high risk of continuing with activities detrimental to their development and well-being.
With little school education and no work experience a child is not a good candidate for becoming employed.
This of course leads to unemployment which is already a big problem in South Africa. According to a study done by the International Employment organization, half of the unemployed people in the world are between the ages of 18 and 24.
I am sure that readers will present a lot of different opinions on this topic of children not completing their school education.
The fact however remains that according to research a person who has completed their school education is at an advantage over a person leaving a school at a young age.
Your 18-year old, Grade 12 pupil has had the opportunity to develop social and problem solving skills in comparison with your 18-year old who has left school at 15 and not continued with any form of education. Academics advise that it is in every child’s best interest to remain at school until the end of Grade 12 in order to obtain essential life skills necessary for everyday life.
