What can a young person under the age of 16 do when he drops out of school?
Verified 05 December 2025 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
If your child under the age of 16 has significant difficulties in class and/or is often late or absent, he may be in a situation of early school leaving. The institution in which he is registered must seek solutions and propose actions adapted to his situation. We present you the support and guidance devices designed to end your child's early school leaving.
Reminder
Education is compulsory until the age of 16.
Different devices are set up in schools to tackling dropout.
“Duties done” mechanism
The “homework done” scheme is a time dedicated to the fulfillment of duties, in relation to the knowledge and skills already worked in the classroom.
Your child must be volunteer to participate.
You are informed of the work done by your child.
The arrangement takes place in the establishment for a predetermined period of time. However, it can be set up remotely to allow as many people as possible to benefit from homework assistance.
Early School Leaving Prevention Group (GPDS)
The GPDS is a device for identifying students who are demotivated, absentee and at risk of dropping out. It is present in all colleges and high schools.
The GPDS is composed of the various actors of the establishment: head of establishment, senior education advisor, psychologist of the National Education, teachers and social and health personnel.
Each young person spotted is offered a situation interview and one special accompaniment. The PAFI (organized initial training course) and tutoring are examples of mechanisms set up by the GPDS.
The GPDS communicates to you the proposals and the progress of the actions implemented. In particular, it can do so on the digital working space, directly by phone or during meeting times (parent-teacher meeting, specific appointment).
The GPDS is also responsible for monitoring the academic and professional development of students who have just left the school.
FYI
One referent “school dropout” collects, in each school, the situations of the students who require an analysis in GPDS.
Tutoring
The tutoring corresponds to interviews framed between an adult volunteer from the institution and your child. It is offered to your child to develop his autonomy, his responsibility and help him progress in learning methods.
The head of the school, in conjunction with the teaching teams, decides on its organization.
You are informed about the implementation of tutoring for your child.
Personalized Educational Success Program (PPRE)
The PREP is a individualized action plan set up when the educational team detects difficulties in your child that could hinder him in his schooling.
It includes actions to help your child acquire specific knowledge and skills.
The PPRE also provides a way to assess your child's progress.
It focuses mainly on French and mathematics. The PPRE may also apply to the 1re living tongue.
The goal of the PPRE is to allow your child to master the sufficient level of common base of knowledge and skills.
FYI
Your agreement is not required to implement the PPRE. However, your adherence to the action plan facilitates its success.
Fitted Initial Training Course (PAFI)
The PAFI allows your child to temporarily leave school to take a step back. He must be at least 15 years old and be willing to benefit from it.
During this period, your child participates in supervised associative, cultural, professional or sporting activities.
Your child retains his or her school status for the duration of the PAFI. He can return to his institution without any negative impact on his studies.
The GPDS (prevention group against school dropout) oversees the construction of the PAFI. It is set up under the authority of the head of the institution.
You are informed of the proposal to implement the PAFI for your child and its organization.
“Temporary school relay” devices
Your child can be integrated into a temporary relay education system (relay workshops, relay classes, stepping stones boarding schools). The aim is to re-socialize and reintegrate it into a training program.
Your child can benefit from this if all the possibilities of care at the college have already been used. It must be voluntary to integrate into the system.
The head teacher and the teaching team will propose the implementation of the system for your child and inform you about its organization.
Reorientation
Your child may be reoriented in another class or in another institution.
Please note
The establishment of a work-study contract may also be considered under conditions, when your child reaches the age of 15.
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