The Thwarting of Youth Aspirations: A Case Study of Factors Associated with Academic Debilitation among Ninth Graders

Abstract

The crisis regarding the academic attri.tion of ninth graders was
investigated through a case study in a school situated amid 11 predominantly
agricultural low-income locality. The study identified student absenteeism and the
8th Grade National Examination results to be important determinants of ninth
grade academic performance. Also, student illness and the need to work for selfsupport
surfaced as the most outstanding re{lsons for absenteeism. Attendant
practical issues, particularly those that relate to absenteeism and the 8th Grade
National Examination are raised, and some directions for subsequent
investigations are suggested