• The day highlighted the importance of empathy and tailored interventions to individual needs
- The Municipal Youth Center in Patraix organized the Interproit Day to reduce educational absenteeism, with the participation of the technical area, facilitators, and representatives from various educational centers
- The main conclusion of the meeting indicates that culture is not the determining factor in school absenteeism, but rather it «responds more to the vulnerability of students»
The Valencia Municipal Council, through the Department of Education, has implemented a program for the prevention of school absenteeism, with the conduct of specific workshops for the educational community. The Municipal Youth Center in Patraix organized the Interprofessional Day for the reduction of educational absenteeism, involving the technical staff of the area, facilitators, and representatives from various educational centers.
The meeting’s objectives were mainly to identify the cultural, social, and economic barriers that favor and increase the phenomenon of school absenteeism and to develop innovative proposals to act against it and enhance the importance of education. It also aims to promote collaboration among social agents, foster an inclusive and diverse approach, and establish a specific action plan that includes the evaluation and impact of previous actions.
For this purpose, several lines of action have been established focusing on complementary actions. Firstly, there was a need to stimulate a community approach to the problem that establishes a coherent message, positive references, and ongoing awareness. Additionally, the importance of networking was emphasized, including the periodic collaboration of the involved agents, the development of fixed work plans, and the conduct of regular workshops.
One exceptional line of work is the necessary adaptation of the educational system to address cases of absence. For this, the need for innovative methodologies and skills-based learning has been highlighted.
Finally, the central importance of preventive programs involving family participation, extracurricular activities, and collaboration with external resources was indicated. In this sense, the meeting served to emphasize the importance of family leisure activities, the provision of listening spaces, and the enhancement of intergenerational ties.
The vulnerability of the student is the determining factor
The main conclusion of the meeting indicates that culture is not the determining factor in school absenteeism, but rather it «responds more to the vulnerability of students». Aspects such as socio-economic context, family values, and the specific needs of each family play a crucial role.
Therefore, from this perspective, there is a need to redefine the role of educational agents, who must take prominence in generating successful experiences, creating significant bonds, and opening spaces for gathering, listening, and flexibility that respond to the realities of each student. The day allowed for highlighting the importance of empathy and tailored interventions to visible individual needs.
Participating in the meeting were representatives from the Secondary Education Institutes Joanot Martorell, Nuestra Señora de Desamparados, Juan de Garay, Serpis, and IES No. 26, as well as Claret Fuyensanta College, Ueo València (special education units), CIIP (Center for Children’s Education and Mayor) Nuestra Señora de Carmen, and the Olive Habilitation Project.
