Centre for Education Policy

Conference „Combating Early School Leaving in Serbia through effective dropout prevention and intervention measures at the school level“

Final conference of the project “Combating Early School Leaving in Serbia through effective dropout prevention and intervention measures at the school level“ took place on the 28 and 29 November 2016 in Belgrade.

This project was implemented by the Centre for Education Policy in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development and UNICEF, and with the financial support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and UNIQLO. It aims to contribute to the reduction of school dropout and early school leaving of children and young people through the effective prevention and intervention at the school level, as well as the development of national guidelines for systematic solutions for this problem. Conference materials, photographs, complete video from the conference and press clipping are available here: http://www.cep.edu.rs/stopdropout

Data collected throughout the implementation indicate that significant results were achieved in the 10 schools participating in the pilot project, with a dropout rate reduced by 66.1%. Individual support to students at risk of dropout proved to be one of the most efficient measures. These results indicate that schools can positively impact external factors such as extreme poverty, severe family problems and severe behavioural problems.

The capacities of 10 primary and secondary schools for the early identification of pupils at risk of dropping out, as well as for the planning and implementation of intervention measures have been enhanced through this project. New measures and activities were introduced and include: peer support, the increased participation of parents in school life, improvement of the implementation of remedial classes, as well as the strengthening of cooperation between schools and local communities.

Schools which participated in the project are: Elementary School „Jovan Jovanović Zmaj” (Surdulica), Elementary School „Branko Radičević” (Vladičin Han), Elementary School „Bratstvo jedinstvo“ (Vrbas), Elementary School „Ljupče Španac“ (Bela Palanka), Politechnical School (Kragujevac), Technical School „23. maj“ (Pančevo), Agro-chemical School „Đorđe Radić“ (Kraljevo), Trade and Catering School „Toza Dragović“, VET School „4. jul“ (Vrbas) and Technical School from Vladičin Han.

This project was also included as a good practice in the European Toolkit for Schools of the European Commission.

The objectives of the conference „Combating Early School Leaving in Serbia through effective dropout prevention and intervention measures at the school level“ was presentation of international experiences in drop-out prevention and intervention, presentation of the framework for school dropout prevention and intervention, presentation of the results of the project, establishing further dialogue between different sectors with regards to the prevention of dropout and presentation of the school dropout prevention and intervention useful resources for schools.

With the participation of internationally renowned experts in this field, the conference brought together more than 170 participants who had the opportunity for learning, exchange of ideas and improvement of practices to prevent drop out.