Perceived Factors Responsible for Students’ Drop Out of School in Zumo Development Area Song Local Government of Adamawa State, Nigeria

The main purpose of the study was to examine school related factors responsible for students dropping out from secondary schools in Zumo Development Area of Adamawa State, Nigeria. A descriptive survey research was adopted for the study. A total of twenty students who had dropped out of school in the past five years were in the study area. They were randomly sampled from five communities out of the nine community secondary schools in Zumo Development area. Data was collected through administering a modified four point likert-type questionnaire to the participants. The data obtained was compiled and analysed using simple percentages. The study revealed that poverty and financial constraints were critical in the dropout phenomenon. The study also revealed that school dropout was primarily grounded in school problems such as school distance and inadequate teacher-student relationship, inadequate resources and facilities as well as irrelevant curriculum content that failed to meet the needs and aspirations of the students. The study recommended that schools learning environment should be child friendly. Teachers as well as pupils should team up to work together to encourage and assist children on the verge of dropping out to remain in school.