Keeping young people in (vocational) education: what works? Briefing note
Too many young people leave education (including vocational education) too soon.
Yet early leavers are at greater risk of long - term unemployment, poverty and crime, and now cost the European economy 1.25% of GDP. Can this flow be staunched?
Cedefop has found there is not enough information on whether countries are succeeding in keeping students in vocational education and training. Some countries, like the Netherlands, register learners and follow them closely; most, however, do not collect such data.
Several countries have introduced bridge programmes that embrace career management skills as one of their key features. These often give young people the chance to acquire or update key competences.
Together with basic skills training, work placements, coaching and mentoring, bridge programmes form ‘packages’ aimed at reducing early leaving. They may also provide a link between formal and non-formal /informal learning (validation).
In addition, they may assess students’skills at the beginning of the programme itself, and validate non-formal or informal learning.
