Attrition in Higher Education: From a Problem to a Wicked Problem or a Pure Case of Economics?

Abstract

Abstract-The problem of attrition in higher education has plagued higher learning institutions for the past 50 years. Governments and institutions around the world and in South Africa having accepted that graduation rates are far from acceptable, have tried to introduce certain interventions that could minimise the impact of attrition. Some progress has been made but so far no real solution has been found, perhaps due to a great number of factors that affect academic success. More than 130 factors have been identified.