School Dropout : Scholar Pathways and Socio-professional Futures of School Dropouts

Statistical analyses indicate that a significant number of young people leave school before reaching the legal age, without acquiring the minimum skills necessary to continue training in their desired field or to obtain a decent job once they reach the required age. This contradicts the principle of optimizing Algeria’s demographic dividend, which requires that the youth population, on the threshold of entering the labor market, enjoy good health and adequate education. School dropout also has financial and social repercussions for the state.

While quantitative studies provide statistics, numbers alone cannot describe the differences among dropouts in terms of preparedness and qualifications acquired during their educational trajectories. It is therefore essential to understand the causes of dropout, the profiles of those who leave, and their subsequent trajectories. Dropout only makes sense if social institutions (such as various training establishments) fail to integrate these young people. Dropout is linked to economic, social, and cultural factors, which operate within regional disparities (North/South, rural/urban).

The research team therefore seeks not only to identify the causes of dropout and the school difficulties that lead to it, but also to understand how actors assign meaning to this phenomenon and how they experience it within the context of local dynamics.

Project Objectives:

The results of this investigation will contribute to the development of a preventive plan against school dropout.The national strategy for pedagogical remediation aims to identify educational approaches capable of reducing school failure and grade repetition, considered among the main causes of dropout. This study also focuses on social and cultural aspects that enhance a comprehensive understanding of school failure and dropout, in order to address them holistically.Field training for school guidance and counseling advisors regarding applied research to identify learners who require specific support.

Long-term Objectives:

To develop a comprehensive plan that enables all stakeholders involved in a student’s educational pathway to identify the obstacles and challenges faced by learners (pedagogical, psychological, social, economic) and determine strategies to address them, with the goal of reducing school dropout rates.