Preventative and compensatory measures to reduce early school leaving

31 January 2007 to 02 February 2007
Dublin, Ireland

Peer Learning Cluster or other group

Access and Social Inclusion

Background

The second Peer Learning Activity of the Cluster on Access and Social Inclusion was organised in Dublin by the Social Inclusion Unit of the Department of Education and Science.

At the first Cluster meeting in May 2006, early school leaving was identified by the vast majority of Cluster members as an issue of utmost relevance.

In the framework of the Education and Training 2010 work programme, Member States committed themselves to reducing early school leaving to 10% by 2010. However, even though there was some improvement in the period 2000-2005, the current EU average seems stabilised at around 14.9%, which means that significant additional efforts to meet the benchmark are required. The issue is particularly complex, and for this very reason the exchange of practices and sharing of reflections was particularly expected.

Description

In addition to presentations and visits, the discussion focused on the following initiatives:

  • The Home School Community Liaison aimed at establishing collaboration between parents and teachers in the interests of children's learning, targeting in particular families and/or neighbourhoods identified as being "at risk"; 
  • The School Completion programme is a positive discrimination measure, targeting those in danger of dropping out of the education system; 
  • Youthreach provides second-chance education for unemployed early school leavers aged 15-20, with a holistic approach on the needs of the pupils; 
  • The Area Partnerships were established in the early 90's to tackle problems of unemployment and disadvantage on the ground.

Outcomes/reflections included that follows :

  • Education is not in a vacuum –it is part of a much more complex picture
  • Difficulties at school often have their roots out of school
  • Trust and respect are fundamental
  • Developing a concept of well-being at school (i.e. since education is compulsory, how school may become a place for a positive self-development?)
  • Building bridges/partnerships (i.e. tackling exclusion and early school leaving through comprehensive strategies bridging different actors)
  • Involvement of parents is crucial
Knowledge System for Lifelong Learning