Preventing early school leaving: student counseling in vocational secondary education

With an average of 6.2% early school leavers in 2019, Flanders scores better than the international average (10.3%), but it has not yet achieved Flemish Pact 2020 targets. Moreover, school leavers percentage is much higher in vocational secondary schools. Their students experience serious welfare problems. The schools do put a lot of effort in guiding their students, but better basic care and more bonding with students is still needed. In this, Flemish government can encourage schools even more. Student guidance centres' (CLB) workload has increased in recent years, which has contributed to dissatisfaction among the schools.