Call for papers

Foundation Madara-Bulgaria is announcing International Forum SCHOOL DROPOUT: In Search for the right approach to take place on 29th -31st August 2012 in Sofia. It is addressed to principals of schools, class-teachers, social support agencies, NGOs working with abused and neglected children and other stakeholders interested in the support of children in danger of school dropout from Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Romania.
School dropout refers to quitting school before graduating from primary, secondary or high school. Reasons are varied and may include: lack of resources to go to school, necessity to survive, to find work, to avoid bullying, family emergency, poor grades, depression, bad environment, boredom from lack of lessons relevant to the world of work etc. It is called The Silent Epidemic - because the number of affected students is menacing, increases every year, gains speed but its harmful effect is still not manifested at the full extent of its potential. The consequences of dropping out of school are typically dire. Students who drop out of school are more likely to be unemployed, homeless, receiving hurt, become a target group or contingent of crime. Although there are varieties in the motives for school dropout from country to country, there are some general tendencies in Central and East - European countries that can be delineated.

The main goals of the International Forum "School Dropout: In Search for the Right Approach" are:

a) to identify the set of main circumstances and reasons for school dropout in East and Central Europe
b) to suggest ideas and incentives for a right approach towards this phenomenon
to exchange isolated good practices of coping with school dropout.
c) to exchange isolated good practices of coping with school dropout

d) to rise the public awareness for the alarming facts;

The lecturers receive full grant for the event: travel, accommodation, food, conference fee. The event is to be supported by Open Society Foundation.

The deadlines are as follows:

21 Febryary 2012: Deadline for expression of interest to participate
- 21 April 2012: Deadline for submitting abstracts
- 21 May 2012: Notification of Acceptance / Rejection
- 21 July 2012: Deadline for final submission of papers

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