INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CHANGES IN EDUCATION
Research Article
Aug 08, 2026 221 54

A Longitudinal Analysis of Early School Leaving in a Tourism-Oriented Rural Island: The Case of Crete

Nikolaos Bitsakos 1 * ,
Stamatina Kaklamani 2
1 Department of Philosophy, University of Crete, Greece2 Department of Sociology, University of Crete, Greece* Corresponding Author
International Journal of Changes in Education, 3(2), 2026, 235-243, https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE52024436
Online publication date: Mar 20, 2025
Publication date: Aug 08, 2026
Full Text (PDF)

ABSTRACT

Early school leaving (ESL) is a critical educational and social issue, reflecting the number of students who exit the education sys-tem prematurely and often face long-term socioeconomic challenges. This longitudinal analysis investigates ESL rates in Greece, spanning from the 2008/2009 to the 2021/2022 school years. The purpose of this study is to examine the extent and determinants of ESL in Greece, with a focus on identifying regional and gender-based disparities. The study begins with an overview of ESL rates across various regions of Greece and then narrows the focus to Crete, the country’s largest island, known for its tourism-oriented economy, rural landscapes, and agricultural development. By comparing ESL rates both between different regions and within the regional units of Crete, as well as ana-lyzing gender-based differences, the research aims to elucidate ongoing trends within the socioeconomic context of the area. In summary, while our interpretative assumptions include differences between regional units linked to cultural peculiarities, the currently available data are insufficient to provide a thorough and well-founded response and do not allow us to discern differences between regional units.

KEYWORDS

early school leaving longitudinal analysis case study

CITATION (APA)

Bitsakos, N., & Kaklamani, S. (2026). A Longitudinal Analysis of Early School Leaving in a Tourism-Oriented Rural Island: The Case of Crete. International Journal of Changes in Education, 3(2), 235-243. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE52024436
Harvard
Bitsakos, N., and Kaklamani, S. (2026). A Longitudinal Analysis of Early School Leaving in a Tourism-Oriented Rural Island: The Case of Crete. International Journal of Changes in Education, 3(2), pp. 235-243. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE52024436
Vancouver
Bitsakos N, Kaklamani S. A Longitudinal Analysis of Early School Leaving in a Tourism-Oriented Rural Island: The Case of Crete. International Journal of Changes in Education. 2026;3(2):235-43. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE52024436
AMA
Bitsakos N, Kaklamani S. A Longitudinal Analysis of Early School Leaving in a Tourism-Oriented Rural Island: The Case of Crete. International Journal of Changes in Education. 2026;3(2), 235-243. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE52024436
Chicago
Bitsakos, Nikolaos, and Stamatina Kaklamani. "A Longitudinal Analysis of Early School Leaving in a Tourism-Oriented Rural Island: The Case of Crete". International Journal of Changes in Education 2026 3 no. 2 (2026): 235-243. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE52024436
MLA
Bitsakos, Nikolaos et al. "A Longitudinal Analysis of Early School Leaving in a Tourism-Oriented Rural Island: The Case of Crete". International Journal of Changes in Education, vol. 3, no. 2, 2026, pp. 235-243. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewIJCE52024436

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