Perceived factors influencing students to drop out of a post-graduate programme

Abstract

Some post-graduate students of Agricultural Education enrolled in Master's degree programmes in Eswatini do not graduate. Unfortunately, no study has been conducted on the factors contributing to the dropout rates among these graduate students. Therefore, this study sought to determine the perceived factors that influence post-graduate students to leave the programme. The study utilised a survey design, collecting data from post-graduate master's students from 1997 to 2024. A questionnaire was developed for the study and validated by three members of the Department of Agricultural Education and Extension. The reliability coefficient was determined using Cronbach's Alpha, with an overall reliability coefficient of 0.84. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. The findings indicated that the factors influencing post-graduate students to drop out include dispositional, academic, institutional, and situational factors. It was concluded that the decision of post-graduate students to drop out is primarily influenced by institutional and academic factors. It is recommended that the Institute of Post-Graduate Studies at the University and the Department of Agricultural Education develop policies that are favourable to post-graduate students, such as creating schedules that accommodate working students.

Keywords

• agriculture education
• drop-out, factors
• factor analysis
• masters programme
• post-graduate students