what is the best thing to do with a child who is not doing well in school?

my friend's son is 17years old and not doing well in school. i really wondered how they got him into jr secondary school even though he can't read or write. he has repeated that class now 2ice. yet everyone is forcing the child to continue. in 2003, he said he wants to do a vocational work. they rejected it and asked him to go to school.

what is the best thing to do in this kind of situation?
send him to boarding school?
allow him to do a vocational job he said he wants to do?

he is been force and i have to advice my friend to allow him follow his heart but she is confused what to do too.

please let's hear your take.

Let him do what he wants to do. His mind is no longer in the studies; maybe he's unable to cope. People should be allowed to do what they want to do as much as possible. Let him do what he wants to do oga. Thanks.

let him do what he wants and his parents should encourage him to do things he wants to do ,manipulation is not the best answer to his situation ,his parents need to let him do what his heart contents and they should invest in bank of encouragement because he is probably going to take new decisions everytime that his parents might not think is appropriate to their society but it might be a decision that will build his future like that of his mates so,he should be given a chance to make academic decisions for himself and they should be wiling to accept it and encourage him ,he might not be good academically but give him a chance to prove his ability with pratical courses.
motivate,encourage,communicate .

Let him learn a trade or anything after his heart. Afterall, he can learn a trade and be better off

i have seen cases like this one. forceful pple.

Have him tested to see if he has dyslexia. Google it for more information.

To me o I think he is lazy ni or his mind no dy wetn he dey do.which foolish vocational job he wan do.who vocational job epp,collect lesson teacher for him,make him read evry day thou bit by bit and then check whether he improves or not.and re u sure he isnt a slowpoke cus if hes complete he should b able to improve.nothing good comes easy or maybe the fault z frm his primary background.so many reasons but i do not concur with you saying he should go for vocational job,can you allow your son to leave school in this era and go learn trade.hit 'like' if you concur with me,thankGOD its friday. Cc; lasticlacla