SCHOOL DROPOUT AND ABSENTEEISM IN SECONDARY EDUCATION: PUBLIC POLICIES FOR MONITORING IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM OF SANTA CATARINA

Abstract

This study is part of the research line on Institutional Dynamics and Public Policies, of the Professional Master's Program in Public Policy Management at UNIVALI. The general objective is to present the reasons for school dropout and absenteeism among high school students and proposals for support to address this issue in the state public school system of Santa Catarina. This is a qualitative, theoretical-practical research study, based on phenomenological hermeneutics, with a documentary design. Data were collected from official reports and documents available at the State Secretariat of Education (SED) and the Court of Accounts of Santa Catarina, between the years 2017 and 2022. The results indicated that the causes of school dropout and absenteeism in high school, as expressed by the students, are more related to social vulnerability, the use of psychoactive substances and sexual abuse, and a lack of interest in school and studies because the school is not engaging; we highlight how fundamental it is for the SED to establish instruments and approaches for dialogue with young people to allow for a more detailed and comprehensive expression of the reasons for seeking to remain in school. To contribute, we developed the Tecacomp proposal, a social technology for monitoring the reasons that impact dropout/absenteeism in high school, especially for welcoming young people into the school.