Hooked on School Days, February 12 to 16, 2018

MONTREAL, Feb. 2018 / CNW Telbec / - A Léger survey shows that the conditions that lead to dropping out can be created very early in a young person's life and that a multitude of actions, from early childhood to adulthood, can make a real difference in educational success.

Commissioned by the IRC Network with the financial support of the Desjardins Foundation, the survey was conducted among 1,009 Quebecers aged 18 to 34 who had had a problematic experience related to school perseverance (people who dropped out, thought to pick up or hanging up).

“The people who spoke in this survey have a very clear message: each path is unique and all the actions that can be taken to encourage and support young people, from the start of their life to adulthood, are a plus for their success ”, specifies Audrey McKinnon, director of the 2018 Hooked on School Days national campaign.

Dropout prevention: every action counts

The survey was unveiled on the occasion of the Journées de la persévérance scolaire 2018, an initiative of the Network of Regional Consultations (IRC) with the support of the Government of Quebec and the Lucie and André Chagnon Foundation. It not only indicates that almost a third of young people vulnerable to dropping out (29 %) started to think about it relatively early, i.e. before the age of 14, but also that school failure is rarely the only factor involved, only 13 % reporting that they had “bad” or “very bad” grades. Rather, the survey points to a combination of factors that also touch on the more general question of interest in school, taste for reading, bullying, the presence of a learning disability, alcohol or drug use, etc.

However, one result is particularly pleasing: those who have thought of dropping out, but who did not, are twice as likely to report having been helped or encouraged by significant people in their entourage, compared to dropouts and dropouts. "This shows that we must continue the collective efforts we are making to support and accompany young people, because this has a real impact," adds Audrey McKinnon.

A collective commitment to school perseverance

“The success of young Quebecers is a fundamental social project that requires a shared will and the commitment of the greatest number. The results of this survey remind us of the important role we all have to play with them, ”stressed Jean-Marc Chouinard, president of the Lucie and André Chagnon Foundation.

On the side of the Desjardins Foundation, which financially supported the IRC network for the conduct of this survey, the director Nancy lee believes that we can all benefit from the results of this survey, no matter what role we play, as a teacher, organization, employer or parent.

Some highlights of the survey

• 29 % of young people who are more vulnerable to dropping out indicate that they started to think about it at the age of 13 or 14, or even younger.
• 47 % mention that they had "fair" marks and 41 %, "good" or "very good" marks; only 13 % report having failed at school.
• 25 % report that they read regularly in their spare time.
• 75 % say they were bored at school.
• 66 % indicate that their parents regularly monitored their situation at school and 93 % mention that their parents valued school.
• 32 % of “perseverants” (those who thought about dropping out, but didn't) say that the encouragement they received made a difference in their decision to stay in school.
• 34 % of dropouts say that a work experience made a difference in their decision to return to school.
• 75 % had access to recreational facilities in their municipality, but only 59 % among dropouts.
• 69 % believe that Quebec society should do more to support school perseverance among young people.
• 82 % affirm that this is a collective responsibility that concerns schools, government, municipalities, school daycare services, early childhood education services, community groups, the network of health, employers and the media.

To view the full survey results: 
http://www.journeesperseverancescolaire.com/sondage

About Hooked on School Days
Present in Quebec for 12 years, the Journées de la persévérance scolaire (JPS) mark a time of the year when partners from all walks of life come together and celebrate the actions taken daily by the community around young people, to talk about solar perseverance. , the benefits of qualifying training and the importance of pursuing your dreams. They are also an opportunity to promote the effort. The JPS are clearly part of the third line of intervention which targets "actors and partners mobilized around success" proposed by the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sport, Sébastien Proulx, within the framework of the large consultation "Education: let's talk about the future".

About the regional consultation bodies on school perseverance and educational success (IRC)
The regional consultation bodies on school perseverance and educational success in Quebec (IRC) are at the crossroads of actors working for the educational success of Quebec students. Their role consists, among other things, in ensuring a plural and active regional mobilization and in developing local partnerships in the promotion of the conditions for educational success. They also have a mandate to support community practices that promote awareness and interest in reading among 0-20 year olds and their parents. Each IRC's mission and activity structure is unique, allowing each to adapt to the specific challenges of the region it serves.

SOURCE Network of regional consultation bodies on school perseverance and educational success in Quebec