Educational Wastage: A Major Hindrance within Progression of
Individuals, Communities and the Nation
Dr. Radhika Kapur
Abstract
The main purpose of this research paper is to understand the factors influencing
educational wastage. It is a major hindrance within the course of progression of the
individuals, communities and the nation. Educational wastage is a worldwide phenomenon. It
occurs due to dropping out of students from the educational institutions, before completion of
their programs of study and before their educational skills are honed, repetition of classes and
courses, being unsuccessful in academic performances and stagnation. When individuals have
obtained good quality education, and are unable to make use of their skills and abilities in
promoting well-being of the community and to sustain their living conditions, then too it is
regarded as educational wastage. The major areas that have been taken into account in this
research paper include, meaning of educational wastage, the concept of educational wastage,
forms of educational wastage, factors influencing educational wastage, determinants of
educational wastage, and recommendations for reducing educational wastage.
Keywords: Education System, Educational Wastage, Individuals, Learning, School,
Teachers
Introduction
Educational wastage is a global phenomenon and emanates from drop-outs, repetition
of classes and courses, unsuccessfulness and stagnation (Ekka, & Roy, 2014). The term
wastage is being used within the system of education to provide description of various
aspects that would lead to failure of the education system in the achievement of its goals and
objectives. Wastage is referred to as the unsuccessfulness of students in attaining the
qualifications that they have been enrolled into. Wastage that arises from repetition or drop-
out is the sign of internal inefficiency. When individuals leaves educational institutions,
before, they have obtained the degree or even before their educational skills are honed or are
premature withdrawals and non-employability of school leavers from the education system
are listed in the ways of measuring wastage. In the present world, what is being wasted is
human learning, school buildings, equipment and the labour of teachers. Wastage occurs,
when the communities or the nations are unable to achieve their educational objectives
through effectual utilization of knowledge and information (Samuel, 2017).
, Education contributes an important part in development. It empowers individuals into
achievement of productivity and sustenance of their living conditions in an efficient manner.
Good education can prove as a source to alleviate the conditions of poverty, unemployment
and backwardness. The individuals are not only able to lead to progress and advancement in
their lives through education, but are able to generate better livelihoods for themselves. It can
be viewed as a primary source of social mobility, national cohesion, socio-economic
development and a pre-requisite for human capital development. Effective utilization of
education helps the individuals in improving their personality and possessing the traits of
morality and ethics (Samuel, 2017). When individuals are educated, and they are unable to
utilize their education in these areas, then it is educational wastage. In other words, when one
is unable to make proper use of education in leading to betterment or welfare of the
community, then it is termed as educational wastage.
Meaning of Educational Wastage
Education is an imperative aspect that provides direction to the individuals in living
an efficient life. Education equips individuals with skills and knowledge that enable them to
contribute towards the progression and expansion of their immediate environment, where
they live. An educated individual is not only able to sustain the living conditions of himself
and his family in an adequate manner, but he is also able to render an effective contribution
towards the well-being of the community. A common feature observed in most developed
countries is higher accomplishment in education as compared to the developing nations. For
instance, it has been reported by the World Bank (1996) on development indicators that
Britain had 98% education attainment, United States of America had 89%, while Nigeria and
Sudan had 59% and 33% respectively (Kayode, Adeniran, & Semako, 2014).
Higher educational institutions are referred to as the key. These are considered by the
nations and the governments with a history dating back to more than eight centuries.
Achieving new technologies, innovative strategies and advanced knowledge can be done
through bringing about improvements in higher education and the planning for quality and
quantity promotion. These factors have an imperative role in the recognition and acceleration
of social and economic progress among the nations (Kayode, Adeniran, & Semako, 2014).
In simple terms, when an individual is unable to make use of the education, he has acquired
for quality, excellence and superiority, then it is termed as educational wastage.
, The term ‘educational wastage’ originated from the terminology of the economists.
The educational system is similar to the industry of which the part of investment and the
material that is meant to get utilised to encourage productivity is wasted and the expected and
desired framework is achieved. Educational wastage means not being successful in the
achievement of goals and educational purposes. In other words, every factor which decreases
the productivity of educational, family or society system in achieving educational purposes,
contributes to educational wastage. The shortages and shortcomings in planning,
implementation methods and guidelines, lack of competence of educational staff, shortage of
facilities and lack of co-operation among educational staff, i.e. society, and family, are the
important basis of educational wastage (Kayode, Adeniran, & Semako, 2014).
In understanding the meaning of educational wastage, this system is like an industry,
where gross materials are inserted into and disposable materials are presented to the society
after making the necessary changes. Within the educational system, it is vital to bring about
changes and transformations. As advancements are taking place, changes need to be brought
about in all areas of the educational structure. Three main parts of this system are input,
process and output. The constituents inserted into this system as inputs are presented to the
society as an output after making the required changes. Educational wastage is the total
number of years that are wasted due to two main factors, repeats and drop-outs. Probation is
one of the forms of educational wastage in higher education. The main areas that cause,
educational wastage includes, being probated, not achieving the desired score, prolonging the
academic course, dropping out of school, suspension, and so forth (Kayode, Adeniran, &
Semako, 2014).
When an individual experiences educational wastage, it leads to wastage of two
important aspects, time and financial resources. When an individual is unable to achieve the
desired grade and has to repeat the class, then ultimately it leads to wastage of finances, as he
has to pay for the same program or course again. Wastage of time occurs, as he has to spend
the entire year or a semester in going through the same course or a program. Hence, repetition
of classes and programs are stated as educational wastage. Research conducted in this area
has focused upon that dropping out of educational institutions, before skills are honed is a
form of educational wastage. There are individuals, who work towards earning a living, even
after they have dropped out of schools, by getting engaged in various minority jobs. On the
other hand, when individuals aspire to study and due to family issues or financial problems,
they have to drop out of school, then it is disappointing and they have to struggle to find
appropriate employment opportunities.
Individuals, Communities and the Nation
Dr. Radhika Kapur
Abstract
The main purpose of this research paper is to understand the factors influencing
educational wastage. It is a major hindrance within the course of progression of the
individuals, communities and the nation. Educational wastage is a worldwide phenomenon. It
occurs due to dropping out of students from the educational institutions, before completion of
their programs of study and before their educational skills are honed, repetition of classes and
courses, being unsuccessful in academic performances and stagnation. When individuals have
obtained good quality education, and are unable to make use of their skills and abilities in
promoting well-being of the community and to sustain their living conditions, then too it is
regarded as educational wastage. The major areas that have been taken into account in this
research paper include, meaning of educational wastage, the concept of educational wastage,
forms of educational wastage, factors influencing educational wastage, determinants of
educational wastage, and recommendations for reducing educational wastage.
Keywords: Education System, Educational Wastage, Individuals, Learning, School,
Teachers
Introduction
Educational wastage is a global phenomenon and emanates from drop-outs, repetition
of classes and courses, unsuccessfulness and stagnation (Ekka, & Roy, 2014). The term
wastage is being used within the system of education to provide description of various
aspects that would lead to failure of the education system in the achievement of its goals and
objectives. Wastage is referred to as the unsuccessfulness of students in attaining the
qualifications that they have been enrolled into. Wastage that arises from repetition or drop-
out is the sign of internal inefficiency. When individuals leaves educational institutions,
before, they have obtained the degree or even before their educational skills are honed or are
premature withdrawals and non-employability of school leavers from the education system
are listed in the ways of measuring wastage. In the present world, what is being wasted is
human learning, school buildings, equipment and the labour of teachers. Wastage occurs,
when the communities or the nations are unable to achieve their educational objectives
through effectual utilization of knowledge and information (Samuel, 2017).
, Education contributes an important part in development. It empowers individuals into
achievement of productivity and sustenance of their living conditions in an efficient manner.
Good education can prove as a source to alleviate the conditions of poverty, unemployment
and backwardness. The individuals are not only able to lead to progress and advancement in
their lives through education, but are able to generate better livelihoods for themselves. It can
be viewed as a primary source of social mobility, national cohesion, socio-economic
development and a pre-requisite for human capital development. Effective utilization of
education helps the individuals in improving their personality and possessing the traits of
morality and ethics (Samuel, 2017). When individuals are educated, and they are unable to
utilize their education in these areas, then it is educational wastage. In other words, when one
is unable to make proper use of education in leading to betterment or welfare of the
community, then it is termed as educational wastage.
Meaning of Educational Wastage
Education is an imperative aspect that provides direction to the individuals in living
an efficient life. Education equips individuals with skills and knowledge that enable them to
contribute towards the progression and expansion of their immediate environment, where
they live. An educated individual is not only able to sustain the living conditions of himself
and his family in an adequate manner, but he is also able to render an effective contribution
towards the well-being of the community. A common feature observed in most developed
countries is higher accomplishment in education as compared to the developing nations. For
instance, it has been reported by the World Bank (1996) on development indicators that
Britain had 98% education attainment, United States of America had 89%, while Nigeria and
Sudan had 59% and 33% respectively (Kayode, Adeniran, & Semako, 2014).
Higher educational institutions are referred to as the key. These are considered by the
nations and the governments with a history dating back to more than eight centuries.
Achieving new technologies, innovative strategies and advanced knowledge can be done
through bringing about improvements in higher education and the planning for quality and
quantity promotion. These factors have an imperative role in the recognition and acceleration
of social and economic progress among the nations (Kayode, Adeniran, & Semako, 2014).
In simple terms, when an individual is unable to make use of the education, he has acquired
for quality, excellence and superiority, then it is termed as educational wastage.
, The term ‘educational wastage’ originated from the terminology of the economists.
The educational system is similar to the industry of which the part of investment and the
material that is meant to get utilised to encourage productivity is wasted and the expected and
desired framework is achieved. Educational wastage means not being successful in the
achievement of goals and educational purposes. In other words, every factor which decreases
the productivity of educational, family or society system in achieving educational purposes,
contributes to educational wastage. The shortages and shortcomings in planning,
implementation methods and guidelines, lack of competence of educational staff, shortage of
facilities and lack of co-operation among educational staff, i.e. society, and family, are the
important basis of educational wastage (Kayode, Adeniran, & Semako, 2014).
In understanding the meaning of educational wastage, this system is like an industry,
where gross materials are inserted into and disposable materials are presented to the society
after making the necessary changes. Within the educational system, it is vital to bring about
changes and transformations. As advancements are taking place, changes need to be brought
about in all areas of the educational structure. Three main parts of this system are input,
process and output. The constituents inserted into this system as inputs are presented to the
society as an output after making the required changes. Educational wastage is the total
number of years that are wasted due to two main factors, repeats and drop-outs. Probation is
one of the forms of educational wastage in higher education. The main areas that cause,
educational wastage includes, being probated, not achieving the desired score, prolonging the
academic course, dropping out of school, suspension, and so forth (Kayode, Adeniran, &
Semako, 2014).
When an individual experiences educational wastage, it leads to wastage of two
important aspects, time and financial resources. When an individual is unable to achieve the
desired grade and has to repeat the class, then ultimately it leads to wastage of finances, as he
has to pay for the same program or course again. Wastage of time occurs, as he has to spend
the entire year or a semester in going through the same course or a program. Hence, repetition
of classes and programs are stated as educational wastage. Research conducted in this area
has focused upon that dropping out of educational institutions, before skills are honed is a
form of educational wastage. There are individuals, who work towards earning a living, even
after they have dropped out of schools, by getting engaged in various minority jobs. On the
other hand, when individuals aspire to study and due to family issues or financial problems,
they have to drop out of school, then it is disappointing and they have to struggle to find
appropriate employment opportunities.
