Dropout Crisis in Puntland Secondary Schools: Analyzing the Causes and Developing Preventive Strategies

Puntland State of Somalia is facing a dropout crisis. An estimated 35% of high school students who enrolled in secondary schools in the fall of 2020 failed to graduate four years later in 2024. Addressing this dropout crisis requires a better understanding of the reasons behind students’ dropout. This paper investigates the root causes of dropout among secondary schools in Puntland State of Somalia and proposes evidence-based dropout prevention solutions. The study used a descriptive research design and a quantitative research approach. The data were gathered by using a structured and contextually adapted questionnaire, which involved 200 purposively sampled respondents who were teachers, principals, and deputy principals from four main urban centres in Puntland (Bosaso, Qardho, Garowe, and Galkacyo). The questionnaire consisted of 28 items (6 items related to demographic information, 12 items regarding reasons for dropout, and 10 items related to possible prevention actions) with a 5‐point Likert scale. The survey was conducted online through Google Forms because of time and logistical constraints, and to promote broad and fast responses. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations) were also calculated using SPSS. In the findings, key dropout determinants were identified, including lack of parental involvement, financial barriers, academic disinterest, and unengaging curriculum. Respondents also strongly agreed with interventions like teacher training, financial assistance, improved interaction between schools and the community, and increased extracurricular activities. The paper ends with a set of detailed recommendations that aim to inform policymakers, educational actors, and development partners in designing context-specific drop-out prevention policies based on the social and cultural contexts of Puntland