The study presented in this article gathered and examined the views of key stakeholders in rural South African secondary schools on strategies for curbing learner dropout. The investigation, which employed a qualitative case study research model, sampled 20 secondary school learners aged 17–20 (11 female, 9 male), 20 youth aged 17–22 (11 female, 9 male) who had dropped out of school, 10 School Governing Board (SGB) members (5 female, 5 male), and 20 teachers (9 female, 11 male), who were purposively sampled from two rural secondary schools engaged in tackling high dropout rates. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with school dropouts and SGB members, and through focus group discussions with teachers and learners. The study revealed that the main strategies the two schools used to curb learner dropout include the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP); the “no-fee school” system; counselling on personal and family challenges; attractive extra- or co-curricular activities; encouragement of parental involvement in school matters; and collaboration between the community and school leadership in monitoring learners. Based on their findings, the authors advocate for stronger school–community partnership, in which both the community and the school take shared responsibility for children’s educational access and opportunity.

本文中介绍的研究收集并审查了南非农村中学主要利益相关者对遏制学习者辍学策略的看法。该调查采用定性案例研究模型，抽样调查了 20 名 17-20 岁的中学学习者（11 名女性，9 名男性）、20 名 17-22 岁的辍学青年（11 名女性，9 名男性）、10学校管理委员会 (SGB) 成员（5 名女性，5 名男性）和 20 名教师（9 名女性，11 名男性）有目的地从两所致力于解决高辍学率的农村中学中抽取样本。数据是通过与辍学者和 SGB 成员的面对面访谈以及与教师和学习者的焦点小组讨论收集的。研究显示，两所学校用来遏制学生辍学的主要策略包括国家学校营养计划（NSNP）；“免费学校”制度；关于个人和家庭挑战的咨询；有吸引力的课外或课外活动；鼓励家长参与学校事务；以及社区和学校领导层在监督学习者方面的合作。根据他们的研究结果，作者主张加强学校与社区的伙伴关系，社区和学校共同为儿童的教育机会和机会承担责任。以及社区和学校领导层在监督学习者方面的合作。根据他们的研究结果，作者主张加强学校与社区的伙伴关系，社区和学校共同为儿童的教育机会和机会承担责任。以及社区和学校领导层在监督学习者方面的合作。根据他们的研究结果，作者主张加强学校与社区的伙伴关系，社区和学校共同为儿童的教育机会和机会承担责任。