School Dropout: Characterization and Socioeconomic Profile of Students in Manaus (AM)

Dropping out of school is characterized by students leaving school during the school term, making it impossible for them to build up their knowledge adequately according to their age groups. It is known that despite the democratization of Brazilian education, the educational structure shows forms of social inequality, under which students are forced to drop out of school due to the socio-economic demands associated with the job market, to make up the family income, a fact that is one of the conditioning factors of school dropout. With this in mind, the purpose of this study was to identify which factors, both internal and external to the school, make it impossible to complete basic education. The methodology was based on quantitative analysis, using semi-structured questionnaires with open-ended questions and interviews with managers, teachers and students at a Youth and Adult Education (EJA) schoo located in the east of the city of Manaus. The results showed that 58.3% of the participants identified themselves as women and 41.7% as men. The answers referred to dropping out of school due to pregnancy and children in the case of females. With regard to the factors associated with males, it was identified that the reason for dropping out was due to the need to work and failing grades.