SCHOOL DROPOUT IN BRAZIL: AN ANALYSIS OF THE DETERMINING FACTORS AND COMBAT STRATEGIES

Abstract

School dropout rates in Brazil represent a persistent challenge that extends beyond the educational sphere and profoundly impacts the economy, public health, and social security. It is estimated that the country loses approximately R$ 130 billion per year due to dropout and abandonment. These figures include lost income, reduced economic activity, and costs related to violence and healthcare. The study, based on a systematic literature review, distinguishes between "evasão" (dropout) and "abandono" (abandonment) and highlights the multifaceted factors that explain the phenomenon, encompassing socioeconomic, pedagogical, institutional, individual, and familial dimensions. Among the key determinants are the need to work—responsible for 41.7% of cases—teenage pregnancy, lack of interest motivated by unattractive curricula, and poor school infrastructure. The theoretical analysis also incorporates the critical notion of "school expulsion," emphasizing that student departures, particularly among Black, low-income, and LGBTQIA+ students, often result from systemic processes of exclusion. The article evaluates programs such as Brasil na Escola, Pé-de-Meia, PDDE (Direct Money in School Program), and Busca Ativa Escolar (Active School Search), highlighting the importance of integration between public policies and collaboration with civil society. It concludes that combating school dropout requires intersectoral strategies, inclusive curricula, socioeconomic support, investments in infrastructure, and anti-discriminatory policies.