OTTAWA -- Many young people are taking the circuitous route from high school to college or university graduation, says a new study by a University of Ottawa economist.
Universities have known for a long time that only about half of the students who begin a college or university program ever finish it.
Among the most heartening conclusions of Ross Finnie's new study of "leavers" and "switchers" is that most of the dropouts are merely changing programs or institutions and end up on the podium eventually.
While many students made educational detours, almost 70 per cent eventually graduated from a program somewhere within five years. Another 20 per cent were still in college or university. In all, only about 10 per cent of the students had dropped out permanently.
"This will change our view of post-secondary education," said Finnie.
-- Canwest News Service
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