ESF QMSS Lefkosia 2006 1
Intervention project
Reducing number of early
school leavers in Ireland
Audrey Bryan
Arnošt Veselý
Rania Georgiou
Kateřina Vlčková
Charis Konstantinides
ESF QMSS Lefkosia 2006 2
Problem definition
* High-level of drop-outs from secondary
education in Ireland (16 per cent)
ESF QMSS Lefkosia 2006 3
Community needs
Why is it a problem?
* For individual:
­ increased risk of poverty, unemployment and social
exclusion,
­ increased risk of pathological behavior.
* For society:
­ increased costs in supporting of those who are
unemployed,
­ loss of human capital (skilled workers),
­ social pathology.
ESF QMSS Lefkosia 2006 4
Target group
* 5 % of secondary schools with the highest level
of drop-outs in Ireland
ESF QMSS Lefkosia 2006 5
Influential factors
teachers
expectations
tracking
too strict
environment
cultural
capital
low attachment to
school
low involvement in
learningfamily SES
low
achievement
low attachement
to school
low
aspiration
DROP-
OUT
PARENTS
PERSON
SCHOOL
ESF QMSS Lefkosia 2006 6
Influential factors
teachers
expectations
tracking
too strict
environment
cultural
capital
low attachment to
school
low involvement in
learningfamily SES
low
achievement
low attachement
to school
low
aspiration
DROP-
OUT
PARENTS
PERSON
SCHOOL
ESF QMSS Lefkosia 2006 7
Interventions strategy
* Training program for teachers
* psychological training (self-fulling prophecy ..),
* classroom management (disciplinary climate...).
* Outreach to parents
* introductory meetings, common gatherings, ,,Olympic
games", theater
* Reorganization of schools
* detracking (same curriculum for every student, extra teaching
for the needed)
ESF QMSS Lefkosia 2006 8
Desired results
* Outputs
* Higher teachers expectations
* Higher attachment of parents to school
* Less strict school environment
* The same curriculum for every student
* Outcomes
* Reducing level of drop-outs
* Impact
* Continuing in further education
ESF QMSS Lefkosia 2006 9
Resources
* Skilled instructors for training program
* Mentors in designing out-reach activities
* Financial funds for out-reach activities
* More teachers
ESF QMSS Lefkosia 2006 10
Assumptions
* School matters !
* Coleman et al.: Structure and organization
of schools do not have any effect upon
achievement ­ what matters are students`
and parents` characteristics
ESF QMSS Lefkosia 2006 11
Assumptions
* School matters !
* Coleman et al.: Structure and organization
of schools do not have any effect upon
achievement ­ what matters are students`
and parents` characteristics
ESF QMSS Lefkosia 2006 12
Research design
* Quasi-experiment
* Unit: school
Two groups:
N O X O (5 % schools with highest drop-out)
N O O (other secondary schools)
ESF QMSS Lefkosia 2006 13
Statistical analysis
* Regression-discontinuity design
* Potential threats:
* History
* Maturation
* Testing
* Instrumentation
* Mortality
* Regression
ESF QMSS Lefkosia 2006 14
Advantages
* Cheap
* Relatively ethical in contrast to randomized
design
* Access to data (data from central register, no
need for data collecting, not time and money
consuming)
ESF QMSS Lefkosia 2006 15
Limitations
* Intervention only at the school level
* Impact not measured
ESF QMSS Lefkosia 2006 16
Open questions
* Multi-level design?
* If individual level included, how to contact
persons later?
ESF QMSS Lefkosia 2006 17
Possible interventions
at individual level
* Counselor
* Special instruction in study skills and
knowledge for students
* Assistance for the homework
* Extra-curricular activities
* Common breakfast
* .......
ESF QMSS Lefkosia 2006 18
Influential factors
teachers
expectations
tracking
too strict
environment
cultural
capital
low attachment to
school
low involvement in
learningfamily SES
low
achievement
low attachement
to school
low
aspiration
DROP-
OUT
PARENTS
PERSON
SCHOOL
ESF QMSS Lefkosia 2006 19
Thank you
for your attention
.............
Critical friends are more than welcome!