<![CDATA[In the national education system, especially in Riau Province, the elementary school dropout rate is still a major problem. Based on data from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (2022) and the Central Statistics Agency (2021), the elementary school dropout rate continues to increase, with Riau Province as the province with the highest number of dropouts (9,262 students). This study aims to determine the causes of school dropouts and examine the handling techniques that have been and can be carried out in Riau Province. The method used is library research with a qualitative approach, analyzing official sources such as Law Number 20 of 2003, Government Regulation Number 17 of 2010, data from BPS and Kemendikbudristek, as well as various relevant scholarly publications. The findings indicate that the causes of school dropouts can be grouped into two categories: internal factors (lack of learning motivation, limited awareness of the importance of education) and external factors (family economic conditions, limited school capacity, and family conflicts). One key finding is that children from low-income families are highly vulnerable to dropping out due to limited access to public schools and the relatively high cost of attending private schools. Although several programs such as the Indonesia Smart Program (PIP), Assistance for Poor Students (BSM), and the SIPANTAS application have been introduced, their effectiveness remains limited. Therefore, a comprehensive handling strategy is required, involving synergy between the government, schools, families, and communities to rebuild motivation and awareness of the importance of education.]]>
