How do you help the 'pretend student' get back on track?

Pretend students, also known as 'ghost students', tell their environment that studying is going well when in fact they have long since dropped out. In the meantime, these students have jobs or spend a lot of time sitting at home or wandering around the city. Whatever the case is, they no longer appear in class.

This makes it difficult for student coaches within Fontys to get in touch with this group of students. Moreover, not every student who no longer appears in class is a pretend student. Of course there are also students who quit their studies and are honest about this, for example after making a ‘wrong’ study choice.

Under high pressure

Last year, Kelly, welfare coach at Fontys Lerarenopleiding Tilburg, came across a student who was nog longer taking classes but was still enrolled. In the case of this student, it started with an unfinished internship and a number of failed courses. When asked about it by family and friends, he insisted that he was still putting a lot of effort in finding a new internship, when in fact he was not.

At first, the student thought he could solve his study delay on his own. He thought it was unnecessary to inform those around him. But eventually, the pressure became higher and higher until the student finally sought help from student coach Kelly. Together they made a plan for the student to be honest with his parents and later also resume his studies. [continue reading below]

Importance of connection

Kelly and Monique call on student coaches at Fontys to actively seek connection with their students. "Time and time again, it becomes clear how important this is. Even though it is often difficult for the student coach to get in touch with pretend students," adds Monique.

It is often thought that students will ask for help from their student coach if they need it. But when you feel so stuck, it can feel like an impossible task. Then you are unable to ask for help.

"Frequent attempts to try and connect with the student can sometimes still lead to an opening. Suddenly the student feels enough room to start the conversation. How frequently you should try, can be a great topic to talk about with colleagues," says Kelly.

Meetings for pretend students

At the end of last year, a first meeting where pretend students could share their experiences with each other was organised. Four students came to this meeting. The aim was to break through feelings of shame about not studying and lying to family and friends. For some this was the starting point to get out of the web of lies and get back on track.

Two more meetings take place on 7 and 23 March. The meeting on 7 March is specifically organised for international pretend students. This is currently receiving increased attention because it is easier for these students to lie about studying because they often live far away from family and friends.

"We are going to have to wait and see how well these meetings are attended," says Monique. "But if you are a student coach and you are now dealing with a pretend student, I would definitely point encourage the student to attend the meeting in addition to personal counselling. It can be very helpful to hear stories from students who are in a similar situation."