Teenage Mothers’ Graduation and Drop-out Rates in the Philippines

ABSTRACT : In adherence to UNESCO’s millennium development goals, this study centers on the rights of
women to higher education despite unexpected pregnancies. Using simulation modeling and validation of the
results of simulation then comparing it into the actual data, this study assesses the extent to which teenage moms
succeed in acquiring a college degree. Assumptions were formulated to measure different variables namely age
and educational level which were found to be directly proportional to achieving success in education despite
unexpected pregnancies. Findings reveal that the possibility of teenage mothers who succeed in acquiring a
bachelor’s degree is much lower than the chance of dropping out. A more mature age and a higher education
level may surface as contributors of success. Finishing school as a teenage mother poses a serious challenge that
extends beyond age and educational level.
KEYWORDS: graduation and drop-out rates, higher education, simulation modeling, teenage mothers, and
unexpected pregnancies