Teachers’ perceptions on risk factors associated with dropout of high school students

In the current research we used 8 focus groups conducted with teachers and principals,in the three Romanian hystorical regions (Wallachia, Moldavia, and Transylvania), to assess theirperception on dropout phenomenon at high school. Participants’ experiences with students at‑riskwere revealed and potential explanatory factors were discussed. The results show that teachers’de‑motivation and pessimist views on the educational system in general might be important factorsin the equation. Several of the issues that are nowadays addressed globally on the school dropouttopic are also found as perceived factors in our research: weak students’ involvement in schoolactivities, early sexual behavior and marriage (especially for girls), being part of a minority group,drug abuse and addictions, family problems. We reveal also local factors that may have a strongereffect on dropout phenomenon in Romania than elsewhere and need to be further investigated:parents’ migration for work abroad; number of working hours in the household, class size and thelack of career counseling for students in high school.