Posts published on September 17, 2009

College Dropout Conference In Colombia

Speaking here today and surprised how similar the problems are to USA in the high incidence of college dropouts as enrollment expands. Colombia has national high school tests and a student assessment at the end of college based on college major. Their dropout rate is 45% from college so they have assembled experts from around the world to devise solutions.

Much of the conversation is about building quantitative risk factors for each student and then intervening in the first year of college. Student support systems must be backed upwith building student study in groups and friends to help struggling students. Conference is needed on this topic in USA. OECD stats show USA college dropout rate is second highest, beating only Italy.