The Catalan authorities have set themselves an ambitious goal: to reduce the early school dropout rate from the current 14% to 9% by 2030. To achieve this, new initiatives are being launched across the region to support young people who have left school for various reasons. One key measure is the Reconnect-ES project, which in its first year helped 15% of students who had previously dropped out return to education.
As part of this program, social educators reach out to young people who have left school to understand their reasons and offer personalized support. Over the year, specialists tried to contact nearly nine thousand people aged 16 to 24. As a result, they managed to speak with around four thousand individuals, and just under half agreed to further counseling and guidance.
Reasons for dropping out
The majority of teenagers cite loss of interest in studies as the main reason for leaving school—this was the response of 42% of those surveyed. Another 36% mentioned personal or family circumstances, 15% pointed to chronic absenteeism, and 5% said they needed to work. Yet behind these statistics lie complex life stories, where economic hardship, emotional issues, and lack of support often intersect.
The case of 22-year-old Jessica is telling. She left school due to family conflicts and mental health challenges. Later, she tried to return through vocational courses and secondary technical education, but dropped out again—she lacked the support needed to overcome her learning difficulties. In addition, her lack of legal status and the need to earn a living only made things more complicated.
Working with motivation
An important part of educators’ work is not just bringing teenagers back to school, but also helping them solve related problems. Young people often need not so much educational, but social and psychological support. According to experts, many do not see the point of studying because they don’t feel any connection between the school curriculum and real life.
Within Reconnect-ES, young people are offered different paths: some choose vocational education, others opt for professional training programs or certificate courses, while others return to high school. In 2024, a third of those who returned chose vocational education, another 13% each took professional integration programs and certificate-granting courses, and 8% continued their studies at the undergraduate level.
New approaches
To improve youth outreach, the Catalan authorities have decided to share data on former students with local municipalities. This initiative has enabled more accurate tracking and better support. The project currently involves 52 social educators, but experts note that covering the entire region would require at least a third more specialists.
In the coming years, there are plans to expand the team and approve new regulations for the educational support service. The corresponding decree is expected to be adopted in early 2026, but the level of funding will depend directly on the available budget.
System Gaps
Despite some progress, experts acknowledge that the current support system cannot fully meet all the needs of young people. Many issues—from lack of funding to psychological challenges—still go unaddressed. Social educators emphasize that to truly reduce school dropout rates, it is necessary to update not only support strategies but also the education system itself, making it more flexible and responsive to the real needs of today’s youth.
Catalonia continues to seek a balance between academic requirements and teenagers’ real-life circumstances. Authorities and teachers agree: without a comprehensive approach and personalized casework, it will be difficult to achieve significant change.
