Maladjustment biggest reason for quitting school

By Na Jeong-ju

About a half of high school dropouts gave up their studies because they failed to adapt to school life, a government survey, released Monday, shows.

According to the survey, jointly conducted by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the state-run Korean Educational Development Institute, 38,887 high school students quit school last year.

The dropout rate was 2 percent, compared with 3 percent in 1980, 2.4 percent in 1990, 2.3 percent in 2000 and 1.3 percent in 2005.

Forty-five percent of the high school dropouts left school as they were unable to adjust to the rules and regulations of attending classes and fitting in.

About 36 percent had to quit school due to immigration or overseas studies, followed by family-related problems (11.6 percent) and illness (5.8 percent).

The dropout rate at middle schools rose to 1 percent in 2010 from 0.7 percent in 2000, the survey showed.

“In the 1970s and 80s, poverty was the biggest reason for dropping out of school. However, an increasing number of students quit school these days because they just don’t want to be in school,” a ministry official said.

The ministry plans to strengthen counseling services at schools to prevent juveniles from being derailed from their studies.

It is also seeking to set up more alternative schools nationwide for dropouts to better match those who don’t attend school, the official said.

Critics said the government should come up with steps to reduce the dropouts.