Structural Reasons
What can a school/college do if a student…
- Is not good at memorising for exams and gets very nervous?
- Has attendance problems because of work, family or health issues?
- Needs more individual time with the teacher (to ask questions, clarify things etc.)?
- Is bored or uninterested?
Which structural changes can the management of a school/college do in order to increase retention?
- Make structural changes in study options so every student can find something of interest which matches their academic ability
- More choices than vocational or matriculation exam (for example, short work orientated study programmes)
- Especially important for students that only have basic general studies qualification because they lack compulsory school diploma
- Enhance the student support system
- Make sure that the school has enough student councilors to ensure that students don't have to wait more than 24 hours for an interview if needed
- Option of an interview with a psychologist or social worker if needed
- Special support for 'at risk' students with regular meetings with parents
- Attendance directory so students and parents can be contacted when a student repeatedly misses classes
- Enhance positive school culture
- Remember that the students are the heart of the school!
- Democratic leadership
- Specific core values for the school
- Good and open communications
- Active social life for students and staff
- Self-evaluation
- Organise in-school training for teachers and staff on different topics, for example:
- Diverse teaching methods
- Diverse methods for assessment and evaluation
- Teaching students with ADHD
- Teaching students with dyslexia
- Class management and behaviour problems
- How to do action research
- How to handle student trauma and grief
- How stress affects our work and what we do about it
- In-school discussion meetings on what every teacher can do to increase retention
- Encourage teachers to use various teaching and assessment methods.
- Student guidance center: for all problems that may have a negative influence on the study success or attendance of students
- Example: Student guidance in teacher training of XIOS Belgium