THE STATE OF ART ABOUT THE SCHOOL DROP-OUT IN THE PARTNER COUNTRIES

BY MÉLANIE LATIERS - ORCHIS

SC-Barcelona March 2014 1

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Partners needs in response to drop-

out

Comparison of practices and

tools

Features of the groups at

risk/organizations

Factors and causes of

dropping outIntroduction

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4 contexts for Atom’s

Partners needs in response to drop-

out

Comparison of practices and

tools

Features of the groups at

risk/organizations

Factors and causes of

dropping outIntroduction

Any strategy to combat school drop-out must rely on a thorough analysis of specific national, regional and local context of this issue.

The compilation of accurate information about this issue allows to better target the measures to be taken, e.g. regarding training

We gathered and compared information on two dimensions. On the one hand we focus on the comparison of local contexts, specifying the causes and extent of drop-out in every region, but also the practices developed in connection with this problem. On the other hand, a focus on the needs of stakeholders in order to organize the future transfer of innovation.

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Why is it interesting to compare?

The comparison focuses on the following data provided by the partners : Identification of factors and causes of dropping out; Identification of groups at risk and therefore social, cultural,

family and economic contexts of these groups, Identification of already existing practices and tools to fight

the school drop-out, Identification of the needs of the partner countries in terms of

adequate response to drop-out

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Which data is it necessary to compare?

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Multiple causes and factors

Partners needs in response to drop-

out

Comparison of practices and

tools

Features of the groups at

risk/organizations

Factors and causes of

dropping outIntroduction

The scientific literature dealing with the issue of drop-out agrees to present it as multidimensional one, with causes described as multiple and interrelated (Robertson & Collerrette, 2005)

In the analysis, we distinguish six types of factors : social, economic, political, geographical, institutional and health factors.

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Differentiating factors and public (1)

ATOM 's project gathers actors that differ in terms of target audience and type of education :

- Spanish and Italian partners : young people between 12 and 18 years, compulsory education

- Belgian partners : young people between 15 and 18 years, compulsory education

- French partners : young people between 18 and 25 years, engaged in a training process

These differences have an impact in terms of factors and causes of drop-out , especially regarding the difference between people being trained and people at school.

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Differentiating factors and public (2)

To distinguish the factors mentioned by the different partners , we will indicate the source of each item with the first letter of the partner countries (I for Italy , B for Belgium, Spain and E )

These factors relate to the environment and family situation of young people, their behavior, but also the socio-historical context (habits, especially related to culture and local identity).

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1. Social factors

For people being trained, French partner insists on three elements : – The people being trained in Etcharry are largely women, who are

often alone to raise their child(ren), usually after a long period of inactivity (unemployment, parental leave…) . These mothers may then find it difficult to manage a family organization that must adapt to the required availability .

– A second element is related to the difficulty of matching the wishes and competencies of people on the one hand, and the perspectives and positions offered by companies on the other.

– A third element is the difficulty of reintegration into a training process. For students, this process generates pressure, and there is a risk of drop-out if the difficulties are too big to overcomed.

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1.1. Social factors for people being trained (F)

For young people at school, the factors identified are quite different :

The first factor concerns the influence the family context on dropout behavior, for different reasons : various family difficulties (financial, relational , emotional,

professional) (B). cultural and educational capital of the family (status, level

of education) (I) (E). overall family dynamics, particularly regarding the issues

of limits, lifestyle, values and attitudes (E) : representation of school and instruction (e.g. Rom families (E)), importance of new technologies (B); time spent by parents to monitor school career (I) (B).

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1.2. Social factors for young people at school (1)

The second factor focuses on the behavior of young people. Here are pointed : The difficulty in enduring the stresses of group life and

rules in society (B). The lack of sense given by the young people about

education. They focus more on other priorities (e.g. video games) (B).

The orientation choices that are not always right (B). The " street culture " that exists in some areas, where

young people spend most of their time on the street (E).

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1.2. Social factors for young people at school (2)

The third factor focuses on the impact of socio-historical context on the dropout, with several key factors : The representations conveyed by the media, focusing on

success, money, hedonism, the importance of the new technologies (I)

The crisis of the traditional family, which generates a multiple and complex of family configurations (I)

The high rate of unemployment for young people, which reduces the value of education, but also personal and family investment (I)

The organization of working time and school time that do not facilitate a dialogue between school and the family (I)

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1.2. Social factors for young people at school (3)

The increase of people at school during the year, particularly due to the arrival of children from immigrant families (I)

The education system that does not offer training programs that correspond to the expectations and needs of young people (B)

A first observation of social factors shows that the results of the different partners differ. The majority of factors identified by the Spanish partner is related to the influence of the family background. Belgian partners focus more on young people's behavior, while the Italian partners rather centered on the socio-historical factors.

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1.2. Social factors for young people at school (4)

The elements included in this category relate to - The local economy, particularly in terms of

employment and the main local economic sectors,- The financial situation of the actors involved in the

issue of drop-out (families, institutions, schools).

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2. Economic factors

The French partner focuses on one main factor : The type of job (or internship) related to training can

be a factor that influences the drop-out behaviors. Etcharry provides training in the area of Personal Services. This sector mostly offers part-time jobs and work on weekends or shift schedule. Students may therefore be in trouble, especially financially, when they have to meet the requirements of the job (e.g. when they have to travel, to take care of their children).

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2.1. Economic factors for people being trained (F)

The local economic context plays a role (E) ( I) (unemployment, sectors growing) . Spanish partners evoke the context Baró de Viver, characterized by a precarious economic situation.

The financial situation of families has an influence both on the school career, choice of schools and school results (I) (E).

The perception of education as a tool providing the ability to get a job is crucial. (B) (I) .

The financial situation of the school determines the magnitude of the support to young people in trouble(I).

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2.2. Economic factors for young people at school

The political choices complicate the support to young people. – On the one hand there is less financial support for drop-out

situations and reintegration through a training course. – On the other hand the priorities of the accompaniment

change. Supporting young people in their personal project on a global level (social, psychological, vocational and health ... ) is gradually abandoned. The focus is more and more on the only professional dimension.

– In addition, the lack of funding for the fight against drop-out implies less cooperation between services. Different social workers may then be in touch with the same young people without real collaborative work, or information transmission between them.

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3.1. Political factors for people being trained (F)

Several specificities of national and local policies are highlighted : In Italy, the financial resources for fight against early

school leaving are insufficient. Indeed, budget constraints lead to divestment policies in the fields of education and culture. Funding devoted to the fight against school drop-out become annual , temporary, or related to EU funding, which leads to fragmentation of interventions, a lack of continuity in projects and a difficulty in anticipating new ones.

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3.2. Political factors for young people at school (1)

Several specificities of national and local policies are highlighted : In Belgium, the lack of appreciation of certain

education sectors, including “education in alternation”, is considered as a factor favoring the drop-out. In addition, the lack of sanctions (financial or others) in case of drop-out is an aggravating factor.

In Spain, a 1990 law changed the limit age of compulsory school from 14 to 16 years, which had some consequences on the issue of drop-out.

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3.2. Political factors for young people at school (2)

The French partner describes several factors in the local context (Basque Country) : The internal Basque country is marked by a strong

culture (including a specific language ), which can be an obstacle to the individual psychological and geographical mobility.

The geographical context, with rural valleys and mountains, leads to difficulties in terms of mobility for people being trained (logistical and financial difficulties)

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4.1. Geographic factors for people being trained (F)

Geographic factors are different :

- Some areas have few schools, which would be a factor favoring drop-out (I).

- The isolation of some areas (from the city) is also a crucial factor, because the marginalization of the population may influence the behaviors of young people. For example, the area of Baró de Viver in Spain, separated from Barcelona by Besos river, makes it an isolated place, which is experienced as such by the inhabitants (E).

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4.2. Geographic factors for young people at school

Two elements that affect young people at school are mentioned by the Italian partner: The insufficient training of teachers in some fields

that are not part of their basic competences. That causes problems to face complex situations experienced by some young people.

The prevalence of summative and not formative evaluation in the educational system prevents a personalized monitoring/support for young people.

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5. Institutional factors, related to the education system

The partners identify identical elements, even if they occur in different contexts (training or compulsory education). Risk behaviors (addictions and others) and psychological/mental problems are here mentioned as causes of school drop-out.

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6. Health factors

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Who are they?

Partners needs

in response to drop-out

Comparison of practices and tools

Features of the groups

at risk/organizati

ons

Factors and

causes of

dropping out

Introduction

What is their social, cultural, family and economic context ?

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1. Who are the young people at risk of drop-out?