Dropping out of school happens when a student drops out of school from one year to the next, that is, when he doesn't enroll in the following year.
The concept of dropping out of school is different from the concept of dropping out of school, which happens when a student stops attending classes during the school year.
Brazil has high school dropout rates: around 2.8 million children and adolescents are out of school.
Students who fail to attend school may have their cognitive and intellectual abilities compromised, in addition to difficulties in entering the labor market.
Among the main reasons for dropping out of school are financial difficulties, lack of interest in school, learning difficulties and little investment in technology in education.
School dropout in Brazil
The Brazilian Constitution determines that the State is obligated to provide elementary and secondary education for all Brazilians. But, despite the obligation, there are still a high number of children and adolescents out of school.
The 2017 data from the Ministry of Education indicated that:
- 75.9% of young people up to 16 years old had finished elementary school
- 59.2% of young people up to 19 years old had finished high school
This data shows that the problem of school dropout is greater among young people, a finding confirmed in 2019 by the IBGE: according to the institution, 11.8% of young people between 15 and 17 years old were out of school, which represents 1.2 million people.
But IBGE data show that school dropout rates are not the same in all regions and strata of society and reflect the enormous inequality that exists in the country.
Regarding the region, the research shows that the school dropout rates of young people in Acre and Santa Catarina, states with the highest and lowest dropout rates, are significantly different:
- Acre: 17.4% of young people do not attend school
- Santa Catarina: 7.8% of young people do not attend school
Students who live in the countryside also have a higher dropout rate, which is a result of the lower supply and difficulty in accessing schools in these locations:
- Countryside: 11.5% of young people do not attend school
- urban areas: 6.8% of young people do not attend school
Income is one of the cuts that make inequalities in the country more evident. When comparing the richest and poorest fifths of society, we have:
- poorer: 11.8% of young people are out of school
- Richer: 1.4% of young people are out of school
The race cutout was also analyzed by IBGE and reveals how racism is a structuring element of society:
- black or brown: 8.4% of young people are out of school
- white: 6.1% of young people are out of school
These data reveal not only the problem of school dropout, but also how the social inequality existing in Brazil affects the education of the Brazilian population in different ways.
Many of the students who drop out of school later return to school for the EJA (Youth and Adult Education). This policy, which should be compensatory, currently serves more than 3 million students.
Understand the causes and consequences of social inequality.
Causes of truancy
Family financial situation
Many students fail to study because they need to work to help supplement the family's income. Some students try to study and work simultaneously, but it is common that they have to prioritize the work.
lack of interest in school
One of the main reasons given by the students themselves is the lack of interest in studies, which may be related to the pedagogical proposal and the school's methodology.
The student does not see himself as the protagonist of the learning process and does not feel that he belongs to the school. Lack of interest is also related to a lack of perspective on education.
Learning difficulties
Many students who reach high school find it difficult to follow the content, as they had a deficient education throughout elementary school.
If these students are not monitored by the school, the difficulties can cause low self-esteem in students, which can lead to their dropping out.
These difficulties also cause year repetition. Repetitions are pointed out as one of the reasons for dropping out of school by education specialists.
Lack of investment in technology
For the school to arouse the interest of students, it must adapt to the needs of the current generation, using technology as an ally in the learning process.
The lack of resources to invest in technologies and the mismatch between the applied methodologies and the current needs of students is another factor that generates a lack of interest.
Difficulty in accessing school
Getting to school can also be one of the reasons for dropping out of school, especially in the early stages, when the child needs someone to accompany them to the place.
This difficulty is more recurrent in rural areas, where distances are greater and the transport structure more precarious.
What are the consequences of dropping out of school?
In addition to compromising the cognitive, intellectual and cultural development of individuals, school dropout has a direct impact on difficulty in entering the labor market.
People who are unable to finish their studies generally end up occupying informal positions, with lower qualifications and low pay.
For the marginalized classes in a society, the difficulties in dedicating themselves to studies prevent these people from getting out of this condition.
How to solve the problem of school dropout?
According to specialists, to reduce school dropout rates, the school needs to carry out a close monitoring of students.
When students are absent or not attending classes, it is necessary to talk with them and their family to understand the reasons that keep them away from the classroom.
Knowing the reality of students and families in the place where the school is located is essential for managers to create strategies for retaining students.
It's also important. invest in technology and make the school more attractive to students, with methodologies that respond to their needs and that are capable of keeping up with the new generation.
Finally, it is important that they develop public policy that not only reduce school dropout, but also minimize inequalities between students from different backgrounds.
