The 8 most important situations of vulnerability at school

What (and what) are the situations of vulnerability at school? In this article we will focus on the concept of educational vulnerability to explain what situations can cause it.

For its part, educational vulnerability refers to all those difficulties or obstacles that interfere with the academic trajectory of the student. In what sense? We will see it below. In addition, we will also talk about up to 8 types of these situations and we will mention examples of each of them.

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Educational vulnerability and its consequences

Before delving into the concept of educational vulnerability, we are going to explain what vulnerability itself consists of.

For this, we collect a definition from Busso (2001), who defines it as "a multidimensional process that converges in the risk or probability of the individual, home or community to be hurt, injured or damaged before changes or permanence of adverse external and/or internal situations” (Busso, 2001, p. 8).

On the other hand, educational vulnerability is a concept that refers to the situation of vulnerability in which some students find themselves, who manifest or experience a series of difficulties or obstacles throughout their academic career; These obstacles make it difficult for them to take full advantage of the teaching within the classroom and within the school context in general.

Thus, broadly speaking, what educational vulnerability does is weaken a student's schooling link.

Difficulties for a good schooling

What do these mentioned difficulties or obstacles consist of?

These are different types of vulnerability situations at school, which are experienced by students at one time or another in their educational trajectory, and these They can be: family, emotional, interpersonal situations, related to the teaching and learning process, with the educational context or climate (environment), etc

all these situations may be accompanied by other phenomena of varying complexity, which can also affect the well-being of the student and/or interfere in their educational process (which can affect various areas of this: personal, relational, properly educational...).

Where does all this come from? Most of the cases in school failure, added to an interference in the well-being and quality of life of the student. School failure can also lead to depressive symptoms, bullying, low self-esteem, family problems...

In fact, all these situations of vulnerability at school (whether as a cause or as a consequence of school failure, although above all as a cause of it) we will see them throughout from the article.

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Vulnerable situations at school

We have collected up to a total of 8 possible situations of vulnerability at school, which can lead to problems of various kinds and characteristics; school failure, relational problems, self-esteem problems, depressive and anxious symptoms, etc.

All these situations, as well as their own consequences, interfere with the academic trajectory of the students in many ways.

1. Present low school performance

The fact of presenting low school performance can end up leading to school failure, among other things.

This is one of the situations of vulnerability at school, since it can also lead to other problems and interfere with the adaptation of the student to the center, in their good performance, in passing the different courses, in the relationship with their companions etc.

2. have family problems

Family problems (as we will see more specifically in the next point) can greatly affect the well-being of the student, which directly influences their academic sphere, but also their personal sphere, relational…

Family problems can be of different types, from having poor communication with parents, to living in a hostile and unstructured environment, etc.

3. Alcoholism in one of the parents

Another of the possible situations of vulnerability at school is the fact that one of the parents has alcoholism.

Family circumstances greatly influence student performance, in their well-being, their relationships, their frustrations, their quality of life, etc. In addition, the fact that one of the parents is an alcoholic can generate great stress at home, as well as feelings of guilt and helplessness in the people who live with the alcoholic. All this, logically, will influence the school.

4. Presence of problems in interpersonal relationships

Problems with peers (that is, with peers of the same age) are also a problem. obstacle that turns the student into a person in a vulnerable situation within the context educational.

5. Presence of emotional problems

The emotional problems of the student himself/herself can also become another situation of vulnerability at school, since These problems can have a very negative effect on their well-being, which will make it difficult for them to relate to others., the construction of a positive self-esteem, their relationship with teachers, etc.

6. Difficulties with teachers

The fact that the student has difficulties with the teachers can also negatively interfere with her academic trajectory. These difficulties They can go from the classic thought of "the teacher has a thing for me", to real battles with the same

7. behavior problems in the classroom

Behavior problems are another vulnerability situation at school. These can be of different types, ranging from mild to severe (they also depend a lot on the age of the student).

We should also think that Under many behavioral problems (or disorders) there are other, deeper problems., normally of an emotional nature, which must be taken into account and duly treated.

8. Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Finally, another of the situations that can lead to educational vulnerability is the fact of being a student with special educational needs.

This concept refers to the fact that a student requires certain support and specific educational attention, during a period (or all) of their schooling. They arise as a result of suffering from an intellectual disability, a sensory disability, behavioral disorders, etc.

Bibliographic references:

• Busso, G. (2001). Social Vulnerability: Notions and Policy Implications for Latin America at the Beginning of the 21st Century. Communication presented at the International Seminar "The different expressions of Social Vulnerability in Latin America and the Caribbean". Santiago de Chile: United Nations- ECLAC.
• Diaz, C. and Pinto, M.L. (2017). Educational vulnerability: A study from the socio-critical paradigm. Educational Praxis, 21(1).
• General Directorate of Culture and Education Provincial Directorate of Planning. (2010). Definitions of educational vulnerability Planning, Research and Statistics Series / 3. Buenos Aires.
• Manzano Soto, N. (2008). Youth in a context of vulnerability and the need for a comprehensive school. Teaching, 35(7): 50-57.