SCOTTISH COLLEGES could be doing more to prevent students dropping out, a study has found, writes Grant Smith, education reporter.

Glasgow University researchers questioned almost 100 young people who had left their courses at the three colleges in Fife—Elmwood, Adam Smith and Carnegie.

Some had simply decided further education was not right for them and had found jobs instead but others had been forced out by lack of money or had encountered problems such as bullying or had their studies terminated for being absent too often.

The researchers found that some of the students were what they termed “unengaged”—they had not only given up on education but had also failed to find training or job opportunities since quitting.

One third of those surveyed said they could not have been persuaded to stay on their course, either because they had made a conscious decision to leave or because circumstances left them with no choice.

Another two-fifths said that an improvement in their learning environment, including more support and understanding from their tutors, would have encouraged them not to give up.

The researchers said, “This substantial group of leavers were conveying a message to the colleges—they could significantly help to retain their learners.”

They went on, “Tutors, advisers and support workers need to use the right learning approaches combined with sensitivity in dealing with unengaged young people.

“Their previous or current experience left them fragile and vulnerable—so much so that even minor problems encountered in class could easily provoke them to leave the course.”

The researchers found the Fife colleges were already trying to support unengaged young people through partnerships with other local organisations.

They added, “The findings…also strongly suggest that colleges pursue early involvement in schools by introducing the concept of progression to college and demystifying what college learning is like.”