The roles Second Chance Education can play as a learning environment: A qualitative study of ‘drop-in’ students

Abstract

ABSTRACT In current Western societies, the number of students dropping out of school is high. At the same time, the importance of education leads to an increase in Second Chance Education (SCE) initiatives as an alternative way to obtain a degree. Little is known about the roles SCE can play as a learning environment for students ‘dropping in’ beyond mere degree attainment. Therefore, this study aims to shed light on these roles by exploring the dropout experiences of drop-in students and the underlying reasons for enrolling in SCE. This study involves in-depth interviews with 28 drop-in students (Mage = 30.0). The findings reveal that not obtaining a degree could be a traumatic event, resulting in challenges such as stigmatisation, discrimination, and social pressure. Based on these experiences, SCE students articulated reasons for enrolling in SCE, including self-actualisation, improved occupational and educational opportunities, and social confirmation by significant others. Overall, this study identified three roles SCE can play for drop-in students, including serving as a new start, a tool/in-between phase and a way to finish unfinished business. These findings call for a more nuanced perspective on education and highlight the importance of reconsidering the individualistic perspective on success and failure in education.