Determinants of Student Dropout from Two External Degree Programmes of Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
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Date
2009
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Malaysian Journal of Distance Education
Abstract
This paper reports on the results of an analytical, cross-sectional,
comparative study adopting tracer methodologies to establish the
determinants of student dropout from two external degree
programmes of Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. Distance
education (DE) has the capacity to increase access to education as
an alternative to face-to-face instruction. Using stratified sampling,
continuing students and students who dropped out of the Bachelor
of Education (External) degree and the Commonwealth diploma in
Youth in Development Work were selected as samples while
purposive sampling was used to select lecturers and administrators.
Findings showed that socio-cultural and financial factors mainly
contributed to the student dropout. Other factors included
environmental factors like the teaching and learning environment,
transfers from one working place to another, loss of jobs,
demanding jobs, sickness and feelings of isolation. It is
recommended that there should be advocacy for the
decentralisation of support activities so that services are moved
nearer to students, hence reducing their expenses; materials should
be printed and made available while funds should also be solicited
by the Department of DE to construct a building that can
accommodate the unique activities required by DE students.
Employers of students should also be sensitised about the
advantages of studying by distance so that they support the
students and give them soft loans to enable them to meet the
requirements for university study.
Description
Keywords
Student Dropout, Degree Programmes, Makerere University
Citation
Aguti, J. N., Nakibuuka, D., & Kajumbula, R. (2009). Determinants of Student Dropout from Two External Degree Programmes of Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. Malaysian Journal of Distance Education, 11(2).