Improvement of digital and peer mentoring support skills of marginalised students to prevent their drop-out from school

Our project idea is that though peer learning mentoring support, these students from marginalised groups would become more independent, self-directed learners, freeing the peer supporter (their ad...

Our project idea is that though peer learning mentoring support, these students from marginalised groups would become more independent, self-directed learners, freeing the peer supporter (their advanced peer) to focus on course content and facilitation rather than continue with routine tasks, which may lead to their potential school drop-out. Our solution is to set up of 24 (while 15 were initially planned) peer learning mentoring schemes between advanced students and low-skilled Roma students and those with special needs to prevent potential school drop-out via digital tools, which led to successful peer support. This improved the digital competences, which are lower than any their student group (Media literacy coalition’s report 2022). In our model 32 teachers helped peer mentors on facilitating discussions about preparatory steps for particular educational subject and provision of on-going support during distance training by using ICT tools, which may facilitate peer support and the improvement of digital and presentational skills. The peer mentors in the course of 4 months answered questions and supported their mentees with homework preparation and they have build common vocational school projects.

During the 13 months duration, the partnership implemented the following 4 major activities: A1: Production and customisation of Peer mentoring training materials A2: Project management & peer mentoring implementation A3; Internal evaluation and quality assurance A4: Dissemination & Exploitation Each of the activities is dully explained in the section Activities. The piloting phase included 24 mentoring couples supported by 32 vocational teachers. Final multiplier event was organized to disseminate the results of the project with 52 representatives of vocational education and training and school education. The following target groups were reached by the partner consortium: - Students with special educational needs (learning difficulties, Roma origin, marginalised, NEETs, low skills) ≥ 250 - Advanced students/peer mentors ≥ 90 - Teachers ≥ 190 - School principals - ≥ 10 - Youth workers ≥ 40 - Youth organizations / youth councils staff ≥20 - Youth training providers ≥ 15 - Family members of students with learning difficulties ≥ 120 - NGOs that represent youth with disadvantages ≥ 10 - Social workers ≥ 15 - Representatives of Ministry of Education/ Youth ≥ 10 - Representatives of Educational and Mentoring planners ≥ 6

- Result 1: Model for peer learning mentoring between advanced students and students with learning difficulties and low skills - Result 2: Code of conduct for advanced students to act as peer mentors of marginsalised mentees (students) - Result 3: Handbook for usage of digital tools in peer support - Result 4 Guidance for teachers on peer mentoring realisation during distance learning All project results are available via project website: www.peermentoring.eu and via Erasmus+ results platform. Social media channel is available via: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092350580372 Impact on mentees: The mentees understood that the tasks set by the teachers were realistically achievable. They became more motivated to keep going instead of giving up. They make conscious decisions about their future. They improved their self-confidence, developed a sense of initiative and built on their digital skills as well as communication, negotiation and teamwork skills. Impact on peer mentors: Open to new things and experimenting with solutions. They empathize with their peers and their experiences. They become school leaders in terms of supporting their vulnerable classmates including via digital tools.