Abstract

DIAZ, Oscar Espinoza et al. Internal school factors associated to school dropout in Chile: a case study. Rev. Lusófona de Educação [online]. 2012, n.20, pp.47-64. ISSN 1645-7250.

The present article has as its main objective to identify the internal school factors which comparatively have a stronger impact on primary level dropout rates among boys and girls from Cerro Navia, namely one area of the Santiago city in Chile which is known for its high poverty levels. The study is based on qualitative information obtained from semi-structured interviews applied to two different samples of 25 cases each: the first one based on school leavers and the second one based on boys and girls who remain at the school system. This information was analyzed following the principles of the discourse analysis and is referred to the perceptions of the boys and girls and their families about the internal school factors which affect dropout and retention in public schools in Cerro Navia. The results allow to establishing significant differences between the educational trajectories of school leavers and vulnerable students and at the same time shed some light about the kind of measures which could be taken by schools themselves in order to prevent its students from dropping out.

Keywords : dropout; abandon; vulnerable students; poverty; retention; internal school factors.

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