ONE STEP CLOSER - BUT HOW FAR? - Norwegian Refugee Council

23According to the conversations with children and teachers, it seems as if the TEP students dono drop out at a higher rate in regular school than other children. They meet the sameobstacles to schooling as most of the other children.According to the supervisors more than half of the TEP students have left since 1998 andsince 2000 the number has increased to much more than 50%. Most of the TEP students leaveduring the first trimester.Furthermore, the drop out continues when the TEP students transfer to regular school.However, they do not know exactly how many as the statistics lack a category showing howmany students who actually show their face on the first day of school.The municipal supervisor thinks it would be better if the TEP students get support until theyhave finished the first cycle of primary. The main reasons why they leave is because theparents do not give them enough support, little interest for schooling among children andparents, they are more interested in fishing. Poverty is an important reason. The drop out isalso heavy among other children in regular in Baia Farta.Educare Eva M. Johannessen