There is a problem with university education in the country with 39.3% of students abandoning their studies. At the state university, UASD, where most students study free, the dropout rate among undergraduates is a staggering 47.6%. Often the reason given for leaving the university is financial need, specifically the cost of books and transportation to and from the university, according to the National Statistics Office (ONE).
Director of Professional Orientation at the UASD, Rosalía Peña, explained that as well as leaving for economic reasons, other students drop out for academic reasons or due to time conflicts with jobs. She says some of these students return to their studies eventually.
According to ONE, the university with the highest dropout rate is the UASD with 47.6%, followed by the Universidad O&M with 44.8% and then the Technological University of Santiago (UTESA) with 43.7%.
Specialists suggest that to reduce the rate, the quality of teaching should improve, and students should be helped to obtain their first jobs.
Read more in Spanish:
El Dia
14 February 2018
