A study of premature withdrawal of students from the Extra -Mural continuation classea of the University of Nairobi

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate factors that lead adult students enrolled in the Extra-Mural Division's (EMD) continuation classes to withdraw pre-maturely from programme. In the light of findings, suggestions have made on how to minimize this wastage.Study samples of 122 students, 61 part-time tutors, planners and administrators were radomly sampled for study. Two Extra-Mural centres namely: Nairobi and Environs and Kisumu were selected for the survey. This study included analysis of responses from students. Part-time tutors, planners and administrators. Subject ranked what they considered to be the most important reasons leading to withdrawal. Responses were also elecited by administration of questionnaires. it was found in this investigation that students opted out of continuation classes due to different reasons. However, high withdrawal rates were identified in this study to be due mainly to the following factors: 1) Ineffective counselling and facilitation of learning by part-time tutors. 2) Learner-centred factors such as : i) Health and social-economic conditions; and ii) Personal goals, study habits and plans and their educational backgrounds.