For a learner, disengagement from an education or training programme before its completion, without having achieved the relevant learning or training objectives.
Comment
- Dropout may apply to the process (early school-leaving) and to an individual who fails to complete a course (early school-leaver);
- besides early school-leavers, dropouts may also refer to learners who have completed education or training but failed the final examinations;
- this term is close to, but not synonymous with: early school-leaving / early leaving from education and training.
Source
Cedefop; Ohlsson, 1994.