Session Information
ERG SES G 08, Students and Education
Paper Session
Contribution
The objective of this paper is to reflect on school failure and school dropout among students of a vocational school in Portugal. This issue has been widely researched and it is a huge international concern, namely in Europe and reflected on Horizon 2020 which aims at decreasing dropout rates in Europe. Bearing this in mind, this longitudinal research has begun in the present school year and will be conducted throughout the next three years and it intents to reflect on early school dropout as a gradual process of disengagement from the school. The paper will present the steps and elements of this process.
Multiple factors in elementary or middle school may influence students’ attitudes, behaviours and performances in high school prior to dropping out (Rumberger & Lim, 2008). To better understand the underlying causes behind students’ decisions for dropping out, we reviewed literature on dropouts based on published studies that analysed a variety of national, state and local data to identify statistically significant predictors of high school drop out. Although it is difficult to demonstrate a casual relationship between any single factor and the decision to quit school, a large number of studies with similar findings suggest two types of factors that predict students’ drop out: factors associated with individual characteristics of students, and factors associated with the institutional characteristics of families, school and communities (Hupfeld, 2007).
Listening to students’ perspectives can improve current educational practice, re-inform existing conversations about educational reform, and point to the discussions and reform efforts yet to be undertaken. When students are taken seriously and attended to as knowledgeable participants in important conversations, they feel empowered and motivated to participate constructively in their education (Cook-Sather, 2002). This research aims at giving voice to students as a means to improve educational practice.
Method
Expected Outcomes
References
Cook-Sather, A. (2002). Authorizing Student’s Perspectives: Towards Trust, Dialogue, and Change in Education. Educational Researcher, Vol. 31, No. 4, May 2002, pp. 3-14. Hupfeld, K. (2007). A review of the literature: Resiliency skills and dropout prevention. Retrieved from www.scholarcentric.com Martinez, Enguita & Gomez (2010). Desengachados de la Educación: procesos, experiencias, motivaciones y estrategias del abandono y del fracaso escolar. Revista de Educación, número extraordinario, pp. 119-145. Rumberger, R. (2001). Why Students Dropout of School and what Can Be Done. Paper prepared for the Conference, “Dropouts in America: How Severe is the Problem? What Do We Know about Intervention and Prevention?” Harvard University, January 13, 2001. Wang, C. (1999). Photovoice: A Participatory Action Research Strategy Applied to Women’s Health. Journal of Women’s Health. Vol 8, No. 2.
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