Mentoring programs to prevent or reduce youth school dropout: A brief literature review

The prevention and reduction of school dropout is a significant challenge for schools across many countries. In Italy, this is particularly important because the European Union has set some specific standards that member states are expected to meet. This thesis examines the multiple factors contributing to school dropout and explores the possible interventions, focusing mainly on mentoring programs. After having provided a general overview on these approaches, this thesis concludes with a case study of a mentoring initiative in a Northern Italian high school, presenting qualitative data from interviews with two teachers-mentors. The findings highlight the importance of high-quality, well-supported mentoring programs implementation.