HELPING THOSE AT RISK OF DROPPING OUT IN VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS

HELPING THOSE AT RISK OF DROPPING OUT IN VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS

Nearly 15% of the students in vocational schools in Albania drop out. Because they leave the educational system so early in their life a large share of these youngsters will have a very difficult time to enter and remain in the labour market. Even if they eventually do get a job, the likability that will be a low-paying and low-productivity job is very high. ‘Skills for Jobs’ S4J has committed to support its VET partners in their initiative to lower the rate of the students who leave school before getting a certificate.

With technical assistance of the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU), six vocational schools have developed in early 2018 a methodology to assist students that are in risk of dropping out from school. Coordinators for reducing drop-out have been identified in each school and continuously trained by HSLU and ‘Skills for Jobs’ S4J experts in recent months. To support the implementation of the methodology HSLU developed a package of instruments for Observation and Intervention Against Dropping-Out and a set of guidelines for teachers how to support students to successfully continue and complete their vocational education.

 

Room teachers, psychologists and Development Unit teachers were trained in June how to apply the package of instruments starting from the upcoming academic year. What makes the package useful is the structured approach it offers to the teachers and psychologist to better target their efforts and enlist the help of peers, students and company mentors.

‘Skills for Jobs’ S4J and the partner VET schools have committed to work jointly to reduce the dropout rate to from 14.5 % (baseline 2015) to 9.2%. The first results we saw during the academic year 2017-2018 are very promising.

If you are a school director or room teacher who is interested to learn more about the methodology and the package of instruments, please contact us at [email protected]. We will be more than happy to share with you.