Evasão nos cursos de nível superior do Instituto Federal do Espírito Santo no período entre 2009 e 2018: um estudo sobre causas e soluções

Abstract

This thesis pertains to the educational field and focuses on the public sphere of higher education and the policies set in place to impede students’ dropouts. This study was developed through an empiric and census based research, data analysis and a case study with descriptive approach. Through this study, we seek to understand the real extent of dropouts at the Instituto Federal do Espírito Santo and the most relevant reasons for dropouts, allowing for the presentation of the main positive actions that aim at mitigating this problem. In order to accomplish these goals, the study was composed by a theoretical research about the subject and a sample of questionnaires and interviews from both students who dropped out of their courses and teachers who have experienced this phenomenon in their classrooms. The resulting data was treated and analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. This analysis showed that even though the two sampled groups have different perspectives relating to student dropout, as students are directly affected by it while teachers have a direct impact in the process, their answers relating to the reasons behind student dropout are similar. These reasons include but are not limited to difficulties in the learning process, which might be related to the course’s curriculum, interaction with teachers and/or difficulties born from lower education and flaws therein. The latter can still result in multiple failed subjects, bad academic performance and a general feeling that the course could be concluded more easily in a private education institution. Another glaring factor are financial difficulties faced by many students. These often lead to a double workload for the students, who have to study and work simultaneously, and the perception that other career paths might lead to better and faster financial return, which, in turn, leads students to question their choices. Lastly, the study has been able to determine that many positive actions have been developed and put in place at Ifes. Some of these have already been proven to work, such as incentives to conduct academic researches and projects, which is one of the main reasons for students to continue their studies.