The mam purpose of this study was to identify the majorrnreasons(causes) that influence pupils to drop out of school at primary levelrnin SNNPR and to forward suggestions so that the problem would bernminimized.rnTo carry out the study, twe lve primary schools were selected Â£i'om sixrnzones using the purposive or judgement sampling technique. One hundredrnforty-four primary school pupi.ls(72 rel11rnees and 72 non- returnees), twelvernprincipals, and 36 teachers have filled in the questionnaire. Twelve pupilsrnfrom grades 2,3, and 4 and 15 parents and/or community members as wellrnas 6 ZED ( Zonal Education department) offficials were used as data sourcernusing interview questions. In addition, data on pupil emollment, dropout,rnand repetition were collected Â£i'om the statistical documents of MOE,rnSNNPREB, and from the rosters and other documents of the sample schools.rnThe obtained data were analysed using statistical tools such asrnpercentages, means, the chi-square, and the rank order correlationrncoefficient.rnThe results of data analysis have shown that student dropout is thernfunction of the in-school and out-of-school reasons. Among the in-schoolrnfactors that have greatly influenced pupils to drop out of school in thernregion, incomplete grades of the school level, shortage of school supply andrnlack of encouragement from teachers were the major ones. Regarding therninfluential out-of-school reasons, pupil s' involvement in income generatingrnactivities, lack of material and financial support and excessive involvementrnin domestic work stand out. Other in-school and out-of-school reasons werernalso identified although they were not as strong as the above mentionedrnones. The study has also noted that factors which cause pupils to drop out ofrnschool are not single. They are interrelated and interwoven.rnOn the basis of the findings, such points as up-grading the in-completernprimary schools to 1-8 level, improving the professional competence ofrnteachers, subsidizing pupils' clothing and school supplies, revising the policyrnon school fee, improving the agricultural sector to create more employmentrnopportunities and expanding and strengthening literacy program and nonformalrneducation are forwarded as recommendations.