Paper Title
A Change Laboratory Intervention to Curb School Dropout
Abstract
This paper presents a Change Laboratory (Change Lab) intervention that was carried out in a primary school that
was plagued by high students’ dropout rates. The study identified contradictions in the school Activity System which were
regarded as underlying causes of dropouts. Participants collaboratively identified solutions that were experimented with to
address the identified problems. Results indicated positive changes in students’ learning, however, they also revealed
structural constraints within the school Activity System which made it difficult to effect the required changes. A new learning
model was developed from the Change Lab process.
Index Terms—Activity System, Change Lab, Learning model, School dropout.