What’s pushing them out of school? A mixed methods approach to examining primary school dropout in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya

Using an integrated sequential mixed methods design, this research examined the case of children and youth in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya in relation to factors that influence school dropout. We used purposive sampling and snowball sampling to recruit children and youth who were enrolled in a formal education system and but were no longer attending and/or has not completed primary school. Drawing from 685 student surveys and 46 semi-structured interviews with out-of-school individuals, results suggest that factors such as inability to pay school-related fees, strict school policy on uniforms and supplies, poverty, and family responsibilities contributed to primary school dropout in Kakuma Refugee Camp. This article concludes with implications for addressing school dropout issues in a camp setting through ongoing professional development and intersectoral and collaborative approaches to refugee education.