Immigrant Dropout Experience of Schooling

Abstract

The study is aimed to explore the experiences of schooling of Thai-immigrant dropout students living in Norway. The purpose is to investigate the relationship between acculturation and adaptation in school and identify the reasons why they decided to drop out. To explore the relationship, the study examines the Thai- immigrant dropout students experience acculturation and adaptation in Norwegian school setting. And from those experiences what could be the reason for the decision to drop out. To investigate the topic, the study used a qualitative approach and conducted in phenomenological research design. The data were collected with the semi-structured interview seeking for the informants’ perception of experiences in school. Four dropout Thai immigrants students, three males and one female participated in this study In the informants' experience, an environment in Norwegian school setting is not supported integration. According to the attitude of the majority resident, the people in the society prefer separation or assimilation. Furthermore, the study found that two of the informants decide to drop out based on the acculturation and adaptation experience. Where two other informants dropout due to the financial concerns.