The importance of developing the student’s sense of belonging in reducing school drop-out rates

Abstract

This article is part of an ongoing doctoral research project that focuses on the problem of school dropout, relating it to the student’s sense of belonging to the educational institution. The central aim of the work is to see if the student’s sense of belonging to the institution can contribute to a reduction in students dropping out of school. However, as the research is still in progress, no empirical data has been collected to date. Therefore, the methodology adopted is presented through a broad and interdisciplinary literature review, using a qualitative approach, in order to explore relevant information available in the academic literature on the subject, allowing a solid theoretical foundation for future investigations. This discussion is promising as it recognizes that the decision to leave an educational institution can also be motivated by socio-affective and emotional issues. Focusing on these broad issues offers an excellent opportunity for more effective interventions in the teaching-learning process, with a view to contributing to the improvement of educational policies and practices.