They blame the repetition of early school leaving

Exams, school work, and many other tests serve to measure academic performance. In case of obtaining the pass, the student continues with his itinerary, if the opposite happens, the student is usually repeat the course in which it is. A measure that seeks to strengthen the knowledge that has not internalized throughout the year.

But is the truth really useful? repetition of course? Does it benefit the student, or does it harm him? From unions like Comisiones Obreras, they question the abuse of this tool and relate it to early school leaving. This is reflected in the report School failure and early educational dropout where the situation of these students is analyzed

Almost twice as much as in Europe

The figures presented in this report indicate that in Spain early school dropout affects a total of 585,000 young people between 18 and 24. In percentage, this number translates into a 18,3% of the population of this age. In comparison with the European Union, this proportion is almost double that of the rest of the countries.

This report also echoes an increase in the rate of young people from 18 to 24 years with a Compulsory Secondary Education degree who do not wish to continue studying. Among the causes of this situation is the abuse of the repetition of the course when the student does not meet the academic requirements.

The LOMCE, by allowing repetition in primary school instead of cycles, is causing a strong increase in repetitions and, eventually, a decrease in the suitability rate, which will harm early school drop-out rates. The sum of the percentage of repeaters has increased in Primary in the academic year 2015-16 has increased by 44.1% compared to 2014/15, from 12.6 to 18.2.

As a solution to this situation, limit the repetition of the course to those cases where it is really necessary. To do this, teachers and centers must be given the results data related to the longitudinal follow-up of the students, by courses and subjects; facilitating the application of alternative educational measures linked to specific subjects and not to the promotion of the course, and monitoring the success of said measures.

In favor of the repetition of the course

Although the repetition of the course finds criticisms such as those made by this union, there are also other points that defend its validity. Some points in favor of this tool are included in the Independent Trade Union Center and of Officials:

- Avoid accumulating content and materials. If the student moves from one course to another without having understood all the lessons that correspond to him, the material he will face next year can be made uphill.

- The teachers who will meet the child who has not learned the necessary knowledge can see their work hampered by having to adjust the level of the non-repetitive student with the others.

- The rest of the students may be delayed due to the presence of a non-repetitive student.

- The added difficulty of facing new content without having internalized the previous course could mean that the student feels less motivated to move forward.

Damián Montero