School dropout is a silent and dramatic phenomenon because it often, along with the resulting educational poverty, generates marginalization and sometimes petty crime.
Attending school, meeting peers, confronting reference adults helps develop critical thinking and generates opportunities. This is why it is necessary, in all Italian regions, to monitor and plan specific interventions to combat it.
The La Stampa Foundation-Specchio dei tempi ETS has made combating school dropout and educational poverty one of its goals by highlighting high-risk areas where more commitment and resources appeared necessary.