📄 Abstract
Out-of-school youth (OSY) remain a continuing educational concern in many geographically isolated and economically disadvantaged communities in the Philippines. This study examined the factors associated with out-of-school youth status in the clustered upstream barangays of Dolores, Eastern Samar from the perspectives of out-of-school youth, parents, and teachers. Specifically, the study explored how school-related, family-related, personal and peer-related, and community-related conditions contributed to educational disengagement among adolescents living in rural upstream communities. A descriptive-survey design was utilized involving 50 out-of-school youth respondents together with selected parents and teachers from the study area. Data were gathered using researcher-developed questionnaires and analyzed through frequency counts, percentages, weighted means, and ranking procedures. Findings showed that many respondents came from low-income households with limited parental educational attainment and agriculture-based livelihoods. Across all respondent groups, personal and peer-related influences emerged as the most significant contributors to school discontinuation. Negative peer influence, declining motivation toward schooling, exposure to community vices, and increasing involvement in non-academic activities were frequently identified as major concerns affecting learner participation. Community-related conditions were also viewed as important influences on adolescents’ educational experiences. Although school-related and family-related concerns were also recognized, these were generally perceived as less immediate compared with social and environmental influences. Differences in perception were likewise observed among out-of-school youth, parents, and teachers, particularly regarding the role of parental support and supervision. The findings suggest that educational disengagement among adolescents in geographically isolated communities develops through the interaction of social, behavioral, familial, and environmental realities rather than through economic hardship alone. The study highlights the importance of localized interventions that strengthen learner support, parental involvement, positive peer environments, and community-based support programs for adolescents in reducing out-of-school youth incidence in vulnerable rural communities.
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📚 How to Cite:
Baleña, Vanessa Mae A, Andor, Rhena N, Cecogo, Diosdado Jr. L, Gerona, Maribel O, Jataas, Jennifer O, Jataas, Joylene O, Quiloña, Janice Dyan , FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH STATUS IN CLUSTERED UPSTREAM BARANGAYS IN EASTERN SAMAR: PERSPECTIVES OF YOUTH, PARENTS, AND TEACHERS , Volume 12 , Issue 7, July 2026, EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR) , Pages: 1 - 16 ,