Who Drops Out of School in South Africa? The Influence of Individual and Household Characteristics

This study examines the correlates of dropping out of school in South Africa. Data from a public-use sample of the 1996 South African census are used. Results were mixed, but suggest that both individual- and household-level attributes are important determinants of dropping out of primary and secondary school. Race, household size, female headship and the head's level of education are also strong predictors of dropping out. The results also show that the selection process for staying in primary or secondary school appears to favor students from wealthier households.