School dropout as a benchmark to be reconsidered within the Education and Training 2020 program (ET 2020). Theoretical reflexions and the results of an inquiry

Abstract

In March 2000, the Lisbon European Council recognized the importance of developing strategies to cope with the challenges of globalisation and the transition to an economy based on knowledge and also on sustainability and social inclusion. One of the benchmarks established in Lisbon for the 2010 is that which states the share of early school leavers should be less than 10 %; recently, it has been presented again by the program for Education
and Training 2020 (ET 2020) because it is still disregarded by many
states. In respect to this problem, Italy is faced with a bigger issue than the other European countries, characterized by a worrisome peak especially in its southern regions. The latest Istat data show that 18.8% of the young people (aged 18-24) which leave school do so without achieving a high school diploma or a vocational qualification—the European average being equal to 14.1%. Such data show how distant Italy is from meeting the Europe 2020
goals. This work presents some guidelines for the development of theoretical reflection in this field, as well as the results of a research project aimed at highlighting the innovative aspects related to education and the self-empowerment of personhood both within the school environment and the social one. A sample approach is thus developed in order to reasonably counter the aforementioned countrywide drawbacks.