Economic hardship is the main reason for school dropouts in Bengkalis

The issue of school dropouts in Bengkalis Regency, Riau Province, remains a significant hurdle in improving human resource quality. Official data from the Bengkalis Education Office reveals that 3,011 children have not progressed to the next educational level. The most dominant factor contributing to this phenomenon is the economic hardship faced by their families.

Although this cumulative figure has seen a reduction from approximately 3,500 children in the previous year, it underscores persistent challenges in fulfilling children's right to education, particularly in the archipelago's island communities. This data aggregates children who did not continue their schooling over the past decade, rather than representing a single year's dropout rate.

The decrease in the cumulative number is partly attributed to the success of the non-formal education programs, such as Paket A, B, and C, offered by Community Learning Activity Centers (PKBM). These programs have enabled some previously out-of-school children to return to education.

However, economic constraints continue to push many children to work and support their families instead of pursuing further education. Other reasons for discontinuing school include disciplinary issues or expulsion. This situation in Bengkalis mirrors a broader national challenge, with Indonesia's Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reporting 2,922,607 children aged 7-18 not attending school in 2025. The 16-18 age group, equivalent to high school level, accounts for over two million of these out-of-school children.