Promover o reingresso de alunos nos cursos profissionais: estratégias de operacionalização e possibilidades para reflexão
Early school leaving, more expressive in the last years of compulsory education, is one of the challenges of European political agendas, affecting the educational inclusion and the social and professional life of the student. This article exposes some results of the European project Orienta4YEL, namely those arising from the Portuguese context. Through a qualitative investigation, wesought to know and interpret early school leaving and, in particular, the possibilities of promoting the re-engagement of young people who attend professional courses. Data were collected through individual and group interviews, carried out in seven schools. Individual interviews were applied to the members of the school boards and administration members, and the focus groups to 42 teachers and 68 students. Through content analysis, the results show the existence of structural, institutional, social, family, and personal factors that can stimulate the desire of young people to return to education. Participants' perspectives highlight the role attributed to the prevention of early school leaving, the need to adapt training paths according to the specificities and needs of young people, the promotion of a closer approach to school through dialogue and individualized support and encourage the involvement of the family in the decision-making process of returning young people to school.