Over the past years, there has been an increase in the rate of college drop outs. There are several reasons why people drop out of college. Foremost among these reasons is the financial constraints. The cost of tuition for college is no joke. The high cost of tuition deters students from even applying for college. Although they can apply for a student loan, they are afraid that they may not be able to pay the debt. Moreover, some students think that going to college is a waste of money. Instead of spending the money for tuition, students choose to spend time on a job which will make them earn.
Another reason for an increase in the rate of college drop outs is that many high schools do not prepare their students well for college. The curriculum that they offer may be outdated.
There are some colleges who do not have sufficient resources; thus, offering only a few majors. This scenario discourages the students, which lead them to drop out of the college.
The lure of a good job is another reason why students drop out of college. Some college students get a part-time job with a good pay while enrolled. This makes them think that college is irrelevant if one has a good paying job already; thus, there is no reason to pursue a degree. Since the purpose of a college degree is to get a job that pays well, why pursue it if one has a current job that meets one’s requirements.
Another deterrent in obtaining a college degree is the lack of support of parents. Some parents simply agree with their children about getting a job and not pursuing a college degree. Instead of encouraging their children to finish a college degree, they fail to advise them about the advantages of having a degree. This is often true for those parents who themselves have not completed a college education.
For other low-income teenagers, they know of only a few people who finish college. The more common route for them is to work in factories because that is the culture in their hometown. They get the impression that going to college does not seem right for them.
With jobs becoming more competitive, a college education is becoming more relevant. Globalization means having to compete for a job even from a person in another part of the world. Without a college degree, one stands a slimmer chance of getting a good paying job. But as college education is moving towards becoming a necessity, there is an increasing rate in the number of college drop outs. Several reasons have been cited for the rise in college drop outs. Government should take a serious look at these reasons and determine what it can do to stop this trend. The government should develop programs which can provide financial support to poor but deserving students. The private sector, such as universities and colleges should look into offering more scholarships to worthy students. The establishment of open universities should be increased to accommodate students who do not have the time to enroll in regular classes. Schools should be more sensitive and responsive to the needs of those individuals who have to balance work and family, yet desire to pursue a college degree. Business organizations may offer financial support to their employees who are willing to go back to college.
The college dropout boom is a challenge not only for students but for parents, educators, the government and the private sector. Students are realizing the importance of a college education but this realization will remain but a dream if society will not provide the necessary support to fulfill the dream of having a college degree.
Works Cited
Gibbons, Michael. Higher education relevance in the 21st century. Washington DC: The World Bank, 1998.
Leonhardt, David. "The college dropout boom." 24 May 2005. nytimes.com. Web. 22 March 2013
