Aproximación a la realidad socioeducativa del alumnado gitanoel abandono escolar

Résumé

In this communication school drop-out is analysed because of the concern that currently generates at a national and international level. This phenomenon significantly affects gypsy youth, contributing to perpetuate their social exclusion circumstances. The school counsellor, considered as an agent of social change, promotes prevention of this problem through his advisory work in the area of attention to diversity, as well as in the development of intervention programs that encourage the acquisition of skills to enable the individual to respond to his needs. In this research the field of study is limited to gypsy ethnic students and their families, who live in an Asturian marginal settlement, and the aim is to identify the factors increasing the likelihood of these young people’s school drop-out. A summary of the needs identified from the specialized literature is presented, as well as the results of the needs assessment of the studied group, which was developed in two phases. In the first one, the documentation of the school where students were enrolled was reviewed, as well as the official studies published on the Asturian gypsy children. In the second one, four in-depth interviews were designed and qualitatively analyzed, which were applied to four educational professionals who were providing specialized support to the students and families. The results showed that the group presented needs at a socio-economic, cultural, educational and personal level, thus increasing the likelihood of school drop-out, particularly due to the influence of family’s ideological barriers. Design and implementation of professional and personal counselling programs since upper primary school are suggested, in order to facilitate transition to secondary school.