Ochwo, Francis2026-05-142026-05-142024Ochwo, F. (2024). Socio-economic factors explaining pupils’ dropout rates in UPE schools in Nawire subcounty, Tororo district. [Research report]. Busitema University.https://bdears.busitema.ac.ug/handle/123456789/2633The study was to establish the effects of socio-economic factors on pupils’ dropout in UPE schools in Nawire Sub- County Tororo District. It was guided by the following objectives: to establish the effects of family income on pupils’ dropout in UPE schools in Nawire Subcounty, Tororo District; to examine the effects of parents’ literacy level on pupils’ dropout in UPE schools in Nawire Sub- County, Tororo District; and, to establish the effects of early pregnancy on pupils’ dropout in UPE schools in Nawire Sub- County, Tororo District. The study used a cross-sectional survey research design consisting of both qualitative and quantitative approaches of data collection and analysis. The study population consisted of teachers, head teachers, Chairperson SMCs and parents who are members of the school management committee and PTA. A sample size of 50 respondents were used. Questionnaires and interviews will be used during data collection. Statistical package for social scientists (SPSS) version 23 was Used to aid the processing and summarizing of information got from the Questionnaires while content analysis will be used to analyze quantitative data. Findings revealed that poverty among parents has led to school dropout. It was established that the majority of parents were small-scale farmers and petty traders. Owing to poor economic status, they faced challenges in paying the extra levies that were not catered for by UPE. Their children were forced to stay away from school as they looked for the money. In many cases pupils just dropped out of school. Pupils were also forced by poverty to engage in income generating activities to supplement family income. It was also the opinion of teachers that some parents were negligent and preferred their children to drop out and get involved in coffee harvesting and in extreme cases girls got married when they were still teenagers. It was also found that parents’ level of education had a strong bearing on pupils’ school dropout in that less educated parents did not motivate their children, which discouraged them from aiming higher. The study further confirmed that early pregnancy contributed significantly towards school dropout in UPE schools in that teenage mothers were subjected to psychological torture, stigmatization and isolation made it difficult for them to remain in school. The study recommends that the government and other stakeholders in the education sector should seek to increase the funding for UPE to cater for all the school monitoring requirements in order to cushion pupils from poor economic background from dropping out of school.en-USThesis