This document discusses early school leaving in the EU. It defines early school leaving and provides EU statistics that show Greece has reduced its early leaving rate from 14.3% in 2007 to 6.2% in 2016 for the overall population aged 18-24, and from 18.2% to 7.1% for young men over the same period. The document then lists reasons why students may abandon their education, including school-related malfunctions, family factors like parental education levels, personal reasons such as health issues, and social factors related to urbanization. Finally, it discusses prevention of early leaving through improved education quality, curriculum relevance, guidance systems, parental awareness, and cooperation with the workforce.

1. ERASMUS+ : “Passport to the future”
1st Gymnasium of Rhodes
Why students abandon
school and university?

2. Definition
 Early school leaving (ESL) refers to young people
that don't complete the required education or
generally to people that punctuate their studies on
higher-level education.
 Early leaver from education and training,
previously named early school leaver, refers to a
person aged 18 to 24 who has completed at most
lower secondary education and is not involved in
further education or training; the indicator 'early
leavers from education and training' is expressed as
a percentage of the people aged 18 to 24 with such
criteria out of the total population aged 18 to 24. (EU
definition)

3. Situation
Statistics in EU (1)
Early leavers from education and training, 2011 and 2016
(% of population aged 18-24)
Source: Eurostat
2007: GR 14,3%
2016: GR 6,2%

4. Statistics in EU (2)
Early leavers from education and training, young men, 2006 and 2016
(% of young men aged 18-24)
Source : Eurostat
2007: GR 18,2 %
2016: GR 7,1%

5. Statistics in EU (3)
Early leavers from education and training, young women, 2006 and 2016
(% of young women aged 18-24)

7. Why students abandon school?
School reasons
The malfunctions of the modern educational system combined with the
old-fashioned educational methods and non-qualified staff .
Educational systems that make students over-competitive, because they
“hunt” for high grades. This can lead to students being selfish and lonely.
Educational programs and analytical programs for studies that aren't
getting students' attention and don't allow them to be creative.
Particular requiring programs with many different objectives that lead to
lack of spare time for hobbies and personal interests.
Difficulties in transitioning through the educational levels (e.g. from middle
school to high school).
Teacher-centered education, that encourages mostly theoritical instead of
practical knowledge and doesn't let students be active in class.
Harsh application of school rules.

8. Why students abandon school?
Family Factors
level of parental education
family instability and lifestyle
parentchild relationships
parental involvement in children’s education
single-parenthood
poor-living conditions
physical and mental health of parents
domestic violence
migrant-minority background

9. Why students abandon school?
Personal Reasons
violence between classmates and schoolmates
(bullying)
fear of failure
pressure from friends
physical changes and adolesence
harmful habits
health issues
marriage
teenage pregnancy
in conflict with law

10. Why students abandon school?
Social factors-urbanisation
Early leavers from education and training by degree of urbanisation, 2016
(% of population aged 18-24)
Source: Eurostat

12. Prevention
access to good quality early childhood education and
care
relevant and engaging curriculum
flexible educational pathways
smooth transition between levels of education
high quality, attractive and engaging education and
training
continuous education for education staff
strong and well-developed guidance system for
career choices
cooperation with the world of work
raise parental awareness of ESL

13. Further information
EU work on ESL:
http://ec.europa.eu/education/policy/school/early-school-leavers_en.htm
Final Report of the TWG on ESL:
http://ec.europa.eu/education/policy/strategic-framework/doc/esl-group-report_en.pdf
Current Working Group on School Policy:
http://ec.europa.eu/education/policy/strategic-framework/expert-groups_en.htm
School Education Gateway: www.schooleducationgateway.eu
Early school leaving survey: Greek Ministry of education, September 2007

14. Evi & Evangelia