Experts uit hele EU buigen zich over schooluitval: intensievere aanpak door scholen nodig (en)
Affecting one in seven young people, early school leaving is one of the greatest educational challenges in Europe, and reducing its levels is a shared objective of EU countries.
A conference organised by the European Commission on 1-2 March 2012 brought together more than 300 practitioners, researchers and policy makers to discuss ways of tackling early school leaving. The conference launched a European expert group in this field, which will meet regularly to exchange experiences and good practice currently locked behind national and regional borders in Europe.
Professor Mariano Fernandez Enguita from the University of Salamanca, Spain, addressed early school leaving and school failure in the context of the growing difficulties schools have in attracting the attention of young people in the context of new media and information overflow. Royston Maldoom, a well-known British choreographer working with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, looked at the perspective of youngsters who lack the confidence and self-esteem needed to develop their skills. He gave a vivid account of how dance can show them ways of reaching their objectives, not only on the dance floor.
In four workshops conference participants discussed how to make policies against early school leaving more efficient. In particular, the discussion focused on the need to further develop co-operation across policy sectors such as education, youth, employment and health, addressing drop-out from vocational education and training, and how to promote different forms of learning to keep disengaged young people in education and training.
In their conclusions participants highlighted the need for strong political commitment, support teachers and other education staff in their work and to involve not only children and young people, but also their parents and local communities in policies against early school leaving.
The conference was opened by Jan Truszczynski, Director-General for Education and Culture at the European Commission, and Christine Antorini, Danish Minister for Children and Education.