School dropout among Ecuadorian adolescents: a systematic review from a socio-educational perspective

Abstract

The study addressed the issue of school dropout among Ecuadorian adolescents, identified as a multifactorial phenomenon that significantly affected educational trajectories, particularly in vulnerable contexts. It was a qualitative research with a bibliographic approach and an exploratory, descriptive, and explanatory level. The methodology consisted of a systematic review of recent literature selected from academic databases, prioritizing studies with a qualitative focus. A total of 25 initial sources were analyzed, from which 10 relevant investigations were systematized. The findings revealed that socioeconomic factors, such as poverty and the need to work, along with family problems, institutional deficiencies, and low educational quality, were the main causes of school dropout. Additionally, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the worsening of these conditions was highlighted. The most relevant conclusion emphasized the need to implement comprehensive educational policies that include economic support, strengthening of the school-family bond, and improvements in infrastructure and teacher training, in order to reduce dropout rates and ensure equitable education.