ABSTRACT This study was conducted in order find out factors responsible for high pupil drop-out in schools under free primary education in Rosondonin primary school, Muchukwo zone, muchukwo P/S and Chernura P/S in Barwessa division Rift-valley province. The study involved a total number of 40 respondents thus; 20 teachers, 10 pupils from standard eight, selected in a gender conscious manner that is; male and female, The instruments employed in this study were mainly questionnaires, and observations accompanied by interview guides. Data was analyzed by use a computer package called MS-Excel where by the responses were coded and edited, then presented in tables, pie-charts and graphs. The findings of this study were discussed in a descriptive manner (qualitative analysis). This involved discussing the data in relation to the research questions, to make meaning out of the data collected, The following were the major findings of the study; An assessment of 35% of the people attributed that academic standards in primary schools have partly reduced where as 25% of the respondents disagreed and 20% of them surprisingly harmonized with the statement that, basing on all problems associated with FPE the academic standards have strongly reduced, Finally, a summary of key findings, conclusions and number of recommendations were suggested as presented in chapter five,
