Caracterização de alunos repetentes: Um estudo na região de Coimbra

Abstract

The present study uses some data of a longitudinal study, made at county Coimbra, to present some characteristics of grade retained pupils, following them from the primary to the high school. This study started in 1992/93 and is always in follow-up. Since this study year, 445 pupils, who at that time frequented the second class from the elementary school, and 448 pupils who were at that time in the fourth class from the same school level have been assessed some times again. We give a synthesis of the results. In the Portuguese school system the grade retention begins early and the most students don’t finish the high school without they have been retained. The majority of the retained pupils are boys. In the first school years the retention seems to be related with difficulties to learn reading and spelling. Of all the retained pupils, the early retained have the most disadvantages during the school period, especially more than one retention. Their parents have lower scholarship than the parents of the not retained pupils and seem to be more absent of the familiar kernel. Many retained pupils leave the school without diploma.