Abandono escolar prematuro y transición a la vida activa en una economía turística: el caso de Baleares

Authors

Maria Teresa Adame ObradorSalto de línea Universitat de les Illes Balears, Departament Pedagogia Aplicada i Psicologia de l’Educació. Área Psicologia Evolutiva i de l’Educació. Palma de Mallorca, España.

Francesca Salvà MutSalto de línea Universitat de les Illes Balears. Departament Pedagogia Aplicada i Psicologia de l’Educació. Área Didàctica i Organització Escolar. Palma de Mallorca, España.

Abstract

Early school leaving and the transition to employment in a tourism-based economy. The Balearic caseSalto de línea Salto de línea Introduction. The growing demand for qualifications in OECD countries has lead to considered advanced secondary studies as the minimum credentials required for a successful entry into the job market and the basis for subsequent participation in ongoing training. Within this context, early school leaving has become one of the central themes in social and educational policies as well as an area of research of growing interest. This article is based on the research study «Early school leaving and returning to the education system in the Balearic Islands. Life stories of students in Ongoing Adult Education». It aims at improving the knowledge of those processes related to early school leaving and reengagement in learning. Methodology: In line with our objectives, we decided to opt for a biographical approximation based on the life stories of 30 young adults ages 16 to 20 who are studying compulsory Secondary Education at Special Adult Education Schools in the Balearics. The results reflect the multi-dimensionality of the factors which influence early school leaving. They also include a special reference to the inter-relationships between the chances to find employment and low academic success rates. The diverse range of situations and expectations related to the reasons for deciding to study at a Special Adult Education School has been documented through fragments of the life stories. Some of the major challenges regarding new demands have been considered. Conclusions. Special Adult Education Schools are not used in a traditional manner, but rather are part of the comings and goings between training and employment, discontinuous personal career paths characterised by reversible, non-linear ruptures.

Keywords

Education-to-labour market pathways, young people, employment, early school leaving, second chance education, reengagement in learning, lifelong learning.