Early dropout from education and training falls to historic low in the Azores - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Educação, Cultura e Desporto

The Regional Secretary for Education, Culture and Sport, Sofia Ribeiro, and the Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment, Maria João Carreiro, welcomed the historic drop in the rate of early dropout from education and training in the Azores in 2024, from 22.9% to 19.8%. 

According to Sofia Ribeiro, when the first coalition government took office "this rate stood at 26.3%," registering "stagnant figures during the five years before 2020."

"The figures now recorded are also the result of the coordinated work of the Regional Government, which, for the first time, through the Education and Vocational Training departments, has begun to monitor individually each student facing early dropout," she added.

It should be noted that the Regional Government, through the Azores 2030 Education Strategy and the Regional Agenda for Vocational Training, has set a target of 15% by 2030 for the rate of early dropout from education and training. 

Against this backdrop, Maria João Carreiro explained that the reduction in early dropout from education and training to an all-time low in the Region "confirms a trend that needs to be consolidated." It would have been difficult to achieve with the public policies implemented in the Region until 2020.

The Secretary responsible for Vocational Training also pointed out that the joint work done not only focuses on preventing early dropout but also promoting differentiated responses so that young people can return to the training and qualification system.

"Young Azoreans now have more opportunities for education, training and qualification, including vocational training in a real work context, with the resulting benefits of improving their schooling and bringing them closer to the labour market," stated Maria João Carreiro.

The rate of early dropout from education and training identifies the percentage of young people aged 18 to 24 who have not completed secondary education or are not in any form of education and training.