Policy Against Drop-out in Italy

Maddalena Colombo

doi:10.37441/cejer/2019/1/1/3340

Abstract

In this essay I set out the current situation of Early School Leaving (ESL) in Italy by considering both data provided by institutional sources (national and international) and a review of the most recent contributions from the educational work that have been done intensively to fight against ESL over the last 20 years. I will argue that the way followed so far will not lead to surprising results, due to deep and structural persisting factors of inequality. After a short overview on the position of Italy in the European rankings, the article recalls the main interventions that took place in the country by different investors (public and non-public), setting up a multiplicity of fragmented macro-politics. Then I will look at the mechanisms of differentiation and unequal distribution of educational opportunities and I will conclude with suggestions on how to make the fight against ESL more efficient and forward-looking.

Highlights

In this essay I set out the current situation of Early School Leaving (ESL) in Italy by considering both data provided by institutional sources and a review of the most recent contributions from the educational work that have been done intensively to fight against ESL over the last 20 years
After 2010, Eurostat introduced the label: Early leaver from education and training, referring to a person aged 18 to 24 who has completed at most lower secondary education3 and is not involved in further education or training; by consequence, ELET rate is the percentage of the people aged 18 to
The Southern European and Mediterranean countries tend to have a large proportion of well-educated NEETs as a result of the crisis; among them, Italy currently scores the highest rate of NEET (Eurofund, 2016)

Summary

Labelling educational disadvantage throughout Europe

This essay aims to present school dropout in Italy in the light of the European policy for a knowledge-based economy and, of the widespread fight against early leaving from education, and the improvement of education levels in every sectors of population. Viewed from the inner side of the school system, early leaving is both a cause and an effect of the malfunctioning of education It has worth taking seriously every attempt to know its factors and its consequences better. After 2010, Eurostat introduced the label: Early leaver from education and training, referring to a person aged 18 to 24 who has completed at most lower secondary education and is not involved in further education or training; by consequence, ELET rate is the percentage of the people aged 18 to. The two operating labels, ELET and NEET, are not overlapping one another (a relevant proportion of NEET youngsters hold a certificate), despite they look very close Both refer to disadvantaged young people and, in the real life, the two facets of disease are often the same (who does not hold a school certificate is less protected from unemployment and is more likely to quit the job searching). After a short overview on the position of Italy in the European rankings, I will recall the main interventions that took place in the country, I will look at the mechanisms of unequal distribution of educational opportunities and I will conclude with suggestions on how to make the fight against school dropout more efficient and forward-looking, even in the light of a recent ‘masterplan’ issued by the Government in 2018

Early school leaving in Italy: an endemic and neglected social issue

Youth guarantee in Italy

Why social inequality still remains in schooling

Findings

Looking forward: three pathways