Shattered dreams, reclaimed futures: social stratification affecting at-risk and out-of-school children and addressing strategies for reintegration into formal schooling

The researchers adopted a mixed-methods approach, focusing on convergent methods to provide a comprehensive analysis of surveys, interviews, and FGDs. Quantitative findings revealed that contextual and professional factors significantly influenced outcomes. Teachers' locality, teaching experience, age, academic and professional qualifications, and professional training were strong predictors of At-Risk, Out-of-School Children (AT-OOSC). Regression models explained 73%–88% of the variance, highlighting the combined impact of geographic, experiential, and credential-based factors, although the high R² values warrant caution given potential multicollinearity. Qualitative insights revealed that AR-OOSC faced severe financial constraints, early entry into work due to parental unemployment, frequent family relocation, and social exclusion, all of which directly limited school attendance and reinforced systemic disadvantage. To support reintegration, the study recommends conditional cash transfers and community-based interventions, including mobile schooling units and the provision of essential resources like uniforms and textbooks, to reduce financial and logistical barriers and encourage sustained school attendance.