Evolution of school dropout in foreign and immigrant students in the Region of Murcia. A study framed in the educational objectives of 'Horizon 2020'

Abstract

This research aims to discover and analyze how is the evolution of school dropout in students in the Region of Murcia by monitoring 599 students from the first school year of Secondary School (ESO) to Baccalaureate. A non-experimental quantitative research design was carried out, specifically, a descriptive and longitudinal design was developed. The data was collected through the PLUMIER database belonging to the Ministry of Education of the Region of Murcia, with an annual frequency in an ad hoc elaborate record, also descriptive statistics were made of the most relevant data of each year and of the variables studied. Among all results, it is highlighted that a high percentage of students are enrolled in state schools, although this situation does not occur according to gender, because there are more female students in private schools. Equally, it is emphasized that of 599 pupils who began the academic year 2007/2008 there were only 84 students left six years later, which means that only 14% of students achieved the second year of Baccalaureate. Therefore, one of the relevant conclusions of this research is that there is a significant school dropout in each school year of Secondary School (ESO), approximately 14% every year; and in transit to the non-obligatory Secondary School (Baccalaureate) the dropout increases to 20%. It also stands out as a native students of foreign origin (the bad-called "second generation foreigners") have a worse academic result and worse advancement than immigrant students.