Increasing dropout rates of vocational education and training learners due to lack of quality distance learning

The European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) has issued a report warning about the risks affecting vulnerable learners during COVID-19. The closure of schools has exposed already vulnerable learners such as those from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds, migrants, ethnical minorities, and learners with disabilities, and special education needs to increased learning and training dropout rates. The report identified other factors that contributed to the negative trend: a) no access to equipment and the internet; b) the lack of digital skills and competences; c) poor experience in creating digital teaching content; d) no experience in e-learning and other distance learning pedagogies in vocational education and training; and e) concerns over privacy issues, copyright, and data protection.