School dropouts on the rise, moving towards crime

Statistics published by the Juvenile Justice Unit (JJU) have shown that a large number of children reported to the unit for involvement in criminal activity had dropped out of attending school.

A report published by the JJU states that 44 percent of children reported to the unit had stopped attending school while just 17 percent of the children reported were still attending schools.

33 percent of children reported had completed their secondary education. The number of children that stopped attending school had increased in double in 2018 and 2019 after a fall in a previous couple of years, according to the JJU. 

133 children were identified as having stopped attending school for various reasons, from reports submitted to the JJU. They include primary grade children as well as children in grades above. The highest number of children identified were from grades 9 and 10. 

Reasons as to why the children stopped attending school, as included in the report, state that children prefer spending time with their friends and older individuals in criminal environments, discrimination within schools which resulted in the students forming an attitude against studies. 

Domestic violence, anger towards disciplinary action taken by schools, neglect, rebellious behavior towards school regulations and rules, unresolved issues between students and their teachers are also among the reasons stated in the report. 

Cases of bullying, relocation to Male’ or another island for disciplinary, financial, or social reasons was also a factor contributing to this. 

Difficulty in coping with the streams studied, belief and frustration that the level of the children’s education and intellect has fallen, violation of laws, pregnancies out of wedlock, failure to regularly attend schools, boredom, or lack of interest towards studies are more reasons cited in the report.  

The report also stated that the number of children involved in criminal activity after completing their secondary education had been reduced and stated that it was likely the number of children involved in criminal activity would increase if the number of dropouts from schools also increased. 

The report also stated that 39 percent of children involved in criminal activity belonged to separated families while 33 percent of children involved in criminal activity belonged to families still together. The report also stated that orphaned children were also more at risk of being involved in criminal activity.

A strong and well-bonded family was something that could prevent children from going astray, and a separated family could lead to the possibility that neglected children could enter into criminal environments, said the report.