Examining gender disparities in dropout rates in the Philippines: a comparative analysis

Education plays a crucial role in an individual's success and a nation's overall development. However, dropout rates pose a significant challenge to achieving educational goals. This study examined gender disparities in dropout rates across regions and educational levels in the Philippines, aiming to understand the trends and patterns of dropout rates among male and female students. The research utilized a dataset of dropout rates disaggregated by gender and categorized by 17 regions obtained from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies. Trend analysis and statistical tests were employed to analyze the data and identify significant differences using R version 4.2.3. The findings revealed that dropout rates at the elementary level have been increasing since 2007, with males consistently exhibiting higher rates than females. The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) consistently has the highest dropout rates, while the National Capital Region (NCR), Region I, and Region IVA have relatively lower rates. In the secondary level, overall dropout rates decreased, with male rates consistently higher than female rates. ARMM stood out with fluctuating and increasing dropout rates. The study highlighted the need for targeted interventions to address gender disparities and regional challenges and the importance of learning from successful regions to improve educational outcomes nationwide. Future research could explore the reasons behind the sudden increase in dropout rates during a specific period and investigate dropout rates beyond 2015.