School Dropout Among Children of the Towani Tolotang Community Parepare City

This study aims to determine and analyze; 1) The perception of the Towani Tolotang community in Parepare city towards education, 2) factors causing children of the Towani Tolotang community in Parepare city to choose to drop out of school, 3) The impact of children dropping out of school on the Towani Tolotang community in Parepare city. The type of research used is qualitative research with a case study approach. The number of informants consists of 11 people, with the following criteria: 1) children of the Towani Tolotang community who have dropped out of school at the junior high and high school levels, 2) Parents of children who have dropped out of school and 3) Towani Tolotang community leaders. Data collection techniques used are observation, documentation, and interviews. Data validity checks are carried out by data triangulation. Data analysis used is data reduction, data presentation and conclusions. The results of this study indicate that; 1) The perception of the Towani Tolotang community in Parepare city views formal education as not a top priority. The Towani Tolotang community places more emphasis on traditional values as the formation of children's intelligence and personality. So that traditional education is seen as equal or more important than formal education. 2) The factors causing children of the Towani Tolotang community in Parepare city to choose to drop out of school are; a) lack of interest in education; b) economic factors; c) parental education level; and d) socio-cultural conditions consisting of the residential environment and early marriage; 3) The impact of children dropping out of school on the Towani Tolotang community in Parepare city, namely: a) lack of job opportunities; b) dependence on others; c) feelings of inferiority; d) lack of skills and knowledge of children; and e) helping the family economy.