High School Dropouts: Relationship between Migration, Work and the Impacts of COVID-19

Abstract

School dropout, characterized by students abandoning the educational process through prolonged or permanent absence from classes without justification, reflects schools' inadequacy regarding sociocultural factors and the pressure for early entry into the job market. The objective of this study is to investigate the motivations for school dropout in the regular public high school of the Escola Estadual de Ensino Médio Marechal Cândido Rondon school, located in Uruguaiana. The study was conducted between October and December 2024, using a qualitative approach. Data collection was conducted through observation of daily school life and class routines, analysis of school diaries, and the administration of a questionnaire to students and teachers. The data were analyzed using Content Analysis methodology, emerging three categories: labor market insertion, impacts of COVID-19, and migration. In Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul, factors such as migration due to lack of job opportunities and digital exclusion have exacerbated this problem. It can be concluded that multiple factors lead to school dropout, requiring public policies that consider the socioeconomic and cultural specificities of each region. Strategies must be implemented to facilitate the transition from school to the job market, to motivate students to continue their academic careers, and to promote a more just and equitable future for young people.