Modelling the Impact of Raising the Age of Participation to 18

In England, the compulsory age of participation in education or training was raised to 17 in 2013 and then 18 in 2015. In Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, the school leaving age is 16. The idea of raising the age of participation in education or training is gaining traction in the Scottish context, as well as in Wales. The Wales Centre for Public Policy (WCPP) conducted research for the Welsh Government to explore the implications of pursuing this policy in Wales. The research considered how raising the participation age (RPA) might interact with ongoing reforms to school age and post-16 provision in Wales, and explored alternative policies which concentrate on reducing early school leaving as opposed to policies that legally require young people to remain in learning for longer periods of time.

Support for teachers to reduce early school leaving

The early school leaving is an important topic in many countries. High early school leaving rates have many costs to individuals and society as a whole (Andrei et al., 2011). State Education Quality Service in Latvia implements European Social Fund Project No. 8.3.4.0/16/I/001 “Support for reducing early school leaving” to reduce the number of children and young people leaving school. The project promotes the creation of a sustainable cooperation system between the municipality, school, educators and parents to identify children and young people at risk of early school leaving and provide them with personalized support. Teacher has great influence on students’ educational decisions (Dunn et al., 2004). The way teachers see themselves as professionals and how they compose their identities in schools is important factor in preventing early school leaving. In order for the teachers to feel confident in their contribution and possible positive solution to the problem, they must have knowledge of the problem and effective solutions. According to the Project teachers are given the opportunity to professionally develop and strengthen their skills for working with young people. The aim of the study is to study the role of a teacher in reducing early school leaving and to reveal the necessary forms of support for the performance of pedagogical activity. Data for this study came from a survey and focus group discussion. 815 teachers participated in the study. Analysis of the data reveals that there are several dimensions in the role of the teacher in reducing early school leaving: creating a favorable and safe learning environment, promoting cooperation with parents and colleagues, improving one’s pedagogical competence, helping students to identify and solve learning and interpersonal problems, and revealing their mental and physical potential. The research results show main areas of professional development of teachers: sharing experience with colleagues and learning from each other, learning student’s individuality at a greater extent, diversification of teaching methods, promoting personal development.

“We Respect Them, and They Respect Us”: The Value of Interpersonal Relationships in Enhancing Student Engagement

Attempts to understand the patterns behind student disengagement and early school leaving have traditionally focussed on early school leavers’ individual characteristics. More recently, however, studies have begun to focus on the extent to which early school leaving is shaped by school-level factors, and in particular the central role of teachers and pedagogy, in (dis)engaging students. Studies have consistently shown how negative teacher–student relations can dominate the lives of young people, leading to poor attendance and behavioural issues which often culminate in them disengaging, leaving or being expelled from school. Furthermore, there is a growing interest in the role of pedagogical strategies in enhancing teacher–student relations, increasing student engagement and bringing about more socially just systems of education. Using in-depth qualitative interviews with staff working in a school engagement programme aimed at preventing early school leaving (the School Completion Programme) and young people who have left school early and who are now participating in an alternative education setting in Ireland as well as staff in those settings (the National Youthreach Programme), this paper provides a unique comparison of two approaches to learner engagement. Findings highlight the centrality of caring and respectful relationships between teachers and students across the two programmes. This paper suggests that aspects of the ‘productive pedagogies’ framework are being used to overcome barriers by placing equal emphasis on student wellbeing and formal learning. However, both programmes operate outside ‘mainstream’ education, with little scope for integration with the mainstream system. This paper concludes that at the micro level, the programmes are effective in re-engaging young people with education but argues that this has little impact at a broader level, where mainstream school practices impacting on student disengagement and early school leaving remain unchanged.

Preventing school disaffection, failure and dropout. The ESF projects “Last Round” and “Energy Start”

Early school leaving is a very important issue in our country, both for its individual consequences and for the social and economic repercussions. The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated some existing trends, increasing risk factors and putting at greater risk of dropout some portions of the school population. The article reflects on the phenomenon of early school leaving and on intervention options, with particular reference to the period of COVID-19 emergency. Starting from the results of two project experiences conducted in 2020 in some secondary schools of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, the contribution examines the protective and risk factors, the needs of students at risk, the contents and teaching strategies of interventions. Finally, it reflects on the different options for implementation, on monitoring and research. Prevenire la disaffezione scolastica, l’insuccesso e l’abbandono. I progetti FSE “Last Round” ed “Energy Start” La dispersione scolastica rappresenta una questione di grande rilevanza nel nostro Paese, sia per le sue conseguenze individuali sia per le ricadute sociali ed economiche. La pandemia da Covid-19 ha acuito alcune tendenze già esistenti, ampliando i fattori di rischio e colpendo con maggiore intensità alcune porzioni di popolazione scolastica. L’articolo riflette sul fenomeno dell’abbandono scolastico precoce e sulle opzioni di intervento, con particolare riferimento al periodo di emergenza sanitaria. A partire dai risultati di due esperienze progettuali condotte nell’anno 2020 in alcune scuole secondarie delle Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano, il contributo prende in esame i fattori protettivi e di rischio, i bisogni dell’utenza a rischio di dispersione, i contenuti e le strategie didattiche degli interventi formativi. Infine, si riflette sulle differenti modalità di implementazione, sul monitoraggio e sulla ricerca.

School Dropout and Early School Leaving in Romania: Tendencies and Risk Factors

Improving participation rates in education and reducing the number of persons who leave the educational system prematurely has increasingly become a concern for national governments and international organizations all over the world. The current paper is the result of the documentation process for a doctoral research project on school dropout (SD) and early school leaving (ESL) in Romania and the appropriate measures that could effectively tackle these negative phenomena. Based on information compiled from periodic reports issued by the relevant authorities, we present the evolution of the two phenomena in Romania, within the last decade. The most extended section of the article is dedicated to a review of the risk factors that have been associated with SD and ESL, based on the theoretical works, research findings and relevant policies consulted during the documentation stage. In the final section of the article, we systematize the relevant aspects resulted from the documentation process and outline the improvements that would benefit future studies aimed at identifying effective solutions to reduce SD and ESL. The current paper may be of use to other researchers, when setting up the design of a study concerned with SD and ESL.