Understanding disengagement through student voices: the case of a vocational school

Abstract

The objective of this work is to reflect on school failure and school dropout among students of a vocational school in Portugal. This issue has been widely researched and it is a huge international concern, namely in Europe and reflected on Horizon 2020 which aims at decreasing dropout rates in Europe. Multiple factors may influence students? attitudes, behaviours and performances in high school prior to dropping out (Rumberger & Lim, 2008). To better understand the underlying causes behind students? decisions for dropping out, we reviewed literature on dropouts based on published studies that analysed a variety of national, state and local data to identify significant processes and predictors of high school drop out. Although it is difficult to demonstrate a casual relationship between any single factor and the decision to quit school, a large number of studies with similar findings suggest two types of factors that predict students? drop out: factors associated with individual characteristics of students, and factors associated with the institutional characteristics of families, school and communities (Hupfeld, 2007). The work which is being carried out comes under mixed-method approach, quantitative and qualitative research paradigm and the methodology adopted involves a The first phase of this research is focused on students. The methodology adopted involves a questionnaire to students, a focus group and an activity developed through photovoice methodology. The second phase is focused on a sample of teachers, team board and pedagogical department. It would be developed through interviews and institutional document analysis. The third phase suposses go back to students again, a year later and after their internship, and carry out new interviews with students identified as risk. On the last phase and after analysing all data collected, we should be able to make improvement proposals and procedures with all participants, teachers and students.