CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES OF YOUTH AND ADULT EDUCATION (YAE): AN OVERVIEW OF DROPOUT AND PEDAGOGICAL PRACTICE IN CONTEMPORARY BRAZIL

Abstract

This article analyzes the challenges and perspectives of Youth and Adult Education (YAE) in the contemporary Brazilian context, with an emphasis on factors associated with school dropout and on the role of pedagogical practice as a strategy for inclusion and student retention. Grounded in a critical theoretical approach, particularly in the contributions of Paulo Freire, the study understands YAE learners as historical and social subjects who possess knowledge constructed throughout their lives. Methodologically, this is a qualitative study of bibliographic and documentary nature, based on the analysis of academic publications released between 2015 and 2025, as well as official documents that guide Brazilian educational policies. The results indicate that school dropout in YAE is related to social constraints, such as exhausting work schedules and the lack of student assistance policies, in addition to institutional factors, including rigid curricula and decontextualized pedagogical practices. The discussion highlights that dialogical, inclusive, and contextualized pedagogical practices, combined with curriculum re-signification and investment in teacher education, are fundamental elements for student retention and academic success. It is concluded that strengthening YAE requires the State’s commitment to equitable public policies and the overcoming of the conception of compensatory education.