In this paper, we revisit the persistent positivity imperative in Finnish youth education by analysing findings from an on-going research project related to various educational interventions targeted ...at young people ‘at risk’. The article is focused on youth education as an emblematic manifestation of therapeutic ethos and neoliberalism. These manifestations are part of the emergence of the Nordic therapeutic welfare state where neoliberalisation and therapisation have formed alliances in aiming to produce resilient citizens while the relationship between the state and citizenship (as well as rights and obligations that citizenship carries) has changed. In terms of youth education, as a rationality of governing, the alliance between therapisation and neoliberalism results in the creation of suitably resilient, self-responsible, anxious, uncertain and inherently psycho- emotionally vulnerable young people.
New achievements have been made in China's economic and social development, which has laid a solid material foundation and premise for the development of youth undertakings. The development of youth ...undertakings resonates with the progress of the country at the same frequency, with the continuous improvement of people's living conditions, and with the improvement of material living standards at the same frequency, realizing the earth shaking change from inadequate food and clothing to a well-off society in an all-round way. The medium and long term youth development plan (2016-2025) clearly states that by 2025, young people's right to education will be better guaranteed, the equalization of basic public education services will be gradually realized, and the level of education equity will be significantly improved.
This paper first discusses the background and theoretical basis of the youth network media literacy education under the Internet + education, and believes that the network media literacy framework ...under the Internet + education has an efficient school system, good school management, high-quality teachers, and perseverant students, contribute to educational success. Therefore, in order to improve the education of young people’s network media literacy, it needs to be constructed in many aspects. First, the background, theoretical basis and era background of the youth network media literacy framework are introduced in detail. Then, according to the theoretical basis of literacy, a complete set of online media literacy education framework for teenagers in the context of Internet + education is designed, including the core literacy layer, the information literacy framework, the Steam literacy layer and the MOOC literacy framework. Finally, after the questionnaire results and analysis, the framework proposed in this paper can improve the literacy ability of young people. The experimental results also show that not only the network media literacy ability is improved, but also the students’ horizons and vision are obviously broadened.
This article presents the results of an analysis of the characteristics of youth 16-30 years of age who are neither in the educational system nor employed (NEET youth-"not in employment, education, ...or training"). Using the example of two groups of youth-(1) those seeking employment and (2) those who do not want a job-we identified their differences in employment preferences, job experience, and life satisfaction. The social factors involved in these differences are determined not only by place of residence, but also by the models the youth have adopted to ensure their own well-being. We show that while the group of unemployed youth is relatively homogeneous and rural-urban differences are attributable to differences in the local labor markets, the group of those who do not want a job differs significantly between the urban and rural areas. We conclude that their differences in relation to employment are also explained by personal motivations and individual life situations. Materials of the Russian Monitoring of the Economic Situation and Health of the Population (RLMS-HSE) comprised the information base for the research.
As a result of being removed from their homes and moving between different placements and schools, foster youth can experience high levels of stress and challenges as they struggle to cope with such ...extreme emotional turbulence. The experience of trauma and instability in turn, can have consequences on foster students' academic progress. As it is seemingly uncommon for foster youth to matriculate to postsecondary education, this study examines how successful foster youth transitioned out of care and furthered their education at an academically rigorous institution. From high-achieving former foster students, this study uncovers their experiences while in out-of-home care that helped them enroll in a university, including how adult supporters provided guidance, emotional support, and stability, which allowed students to move out of their negative past experiences. Adults' willingness to assist youth and be a part of their lives provided students with a transformative academic and social emotional environment, furthering their ability to persist through high school and gain acceptance to a top-tier university.
•Students may find motivation for academic success through resistance of their environments.•Organizations and extracurricular activities can provide structures for encouraging academic achievement.•Theory of care suggests adult support may be required to sustain educational resilience.•Collective solutions are needed for students facing extreme and detrimental challenges.
This paper presents empirical evidence that export growth in China after its WTO accession in 2001 has altered education attainment for Chinese youths. On one hand, China's export expansion after the ...WTO entry has increased the opportunity cost of schooling and thus has induced many youths to drop out of school at younger ages; but on the other hand, the subsequent trade upgrading has also led to increased demand for additional education at the college level. This paper exploits variation in trade exposure in the timing of youth education decision and trade exposure variation among regions to identify the existence and the relative importance of these two effects of China's WTO accession. We document statistically significant and robust evidence that while export expansion has caused 2 months' reduction in youth schooling on average, it has led to 2 months increase for individuals with at least a high school education. Moreover, we find that the reduction in education is mainly caused by processing exports and predominantly experienced by youths in rural areas and from families with siblings, while the improvement in education can be largely attributed to exports to high income nations and is largely observed for youths from urban areas. Consistent with individuals making rational choices when faced with additional employment opportunities arising from globalization, these findings have important consequences for income distribution in China.
Numbers of street-connected children and young people run into many millions worldwide and include children and young people who live or work in street environments. Whether or not they remain ...connected to their families of origin, and despite many strengths and resiliencies, they are vulnerable to a range of risks and are excluded from mainstream social structures and opportunities.
To summarise the effectiveness of interventions for street-connected children and young people that promote inclusion and reintegration and reduce harms. To explore the processes of successful intervention and models of change in this area, and to understand how intervention effectiveness may vary in different contexts..
We searched the following bibliographic databases, from inception to 2012, and various relevant non-governmental and organisational websites: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); MEDLINE and PreMEDLINE; EMBASE and EMBASE Classic; CINAHL; PsycINFO; ERIC; Sociological Abstracts; Social Services Abstracts; Social Work Abstracts; Healthstar; LILACS; System for Grey literature in Europe (OpenGrey); ProQuest Dissertations and Theses; EconLit; IDEAS Economics and Finance Research; JOLIS Library Catalog of the holdings of the World Bank Group and IMF Libraries; BLDS (British Library for Development Studies); Google, Google Scholar.
The review included data from harm reduction or reintegration promotion intervention studies that used a comparison group study design and were all randomised or quasi-randomised studies. Studies were included if they evaluated interventions aimed to benefit street-connected children and young people, aged 0 to 24 years, in all contexts.
Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Data were extracted on intervention delivery, context, process factors, equity and outcomes. Outcome measures were grouped according to whether they measured psychosocial outcomes, risky sexual behaviours or substance use. A meta-analysis was conducted for some outcomes though it was not possible for all due to differences in measurements between studies. Other outcomes were evaluated narratively.
We included 11 studies evaluating 12 interventions from high income countries. We did not find any sufficiently robust evaluations conducted in low and middle income countries (LMICs) despite the existence of many relevant programmes. Study quality overall was low to moderate and there was great variation in the measurement used by studies, making comparison difficult. Participants were drop-in and shelter based. We found no consistent results on a range of relevant outcomes within domains of psychosocial health, substance misuse and sexual risky behaviours despite the many measurements collected in the studies. The interventions being evaluated consisted of time limited therapeutically based programmes which did not prove more effective than standard shelter or drop-in services for most outcomes and in most studies. There were favourable changes from baseline in outcomes for most particpants in therapy interventions and also in standard services. There was considerable heterogeneity between studies and equity data were inconsistently reported. No study measured the primary outcome of reintegration or reported on adverse effects. The review discussion section included consideration of the relevance of the findings for LMIC settings.
Analysis across the included studies found no consistently significant benefit for the 'new' interventions compared to standard services for street-connected children and young people. These latter interventions, however, have not been rigorously evaluated, especially in the context of LMICs. Robustly evaluating the interventions would enable better recommendations to be made for service delivery. There is a need for future research in LMICs that includes children who are on the streets due to urbanisation, war or migration and who may be vulnerable to risks such as trafficking.
Street-connected youth (SCY) in Kenya and elsewhere in sub–Saharan Africa are at high risk of HIV. Voluntary Male Medical Circumcision (VMMC) reduces the risk of female-to-male HIV transmission. ...Circumcision is also a traditional coming-of-age process in many Kenyan ethnic groups. This paper describes the acceptability of VMMC delivered as part of a ten-day healing, educational, and ‘coming-of-age’ retreat implemented as a pilot with SCY.
Male SCY aged between 12 and 24 living on the street for more than 3 months were eligible to participate. The study took place over 10 days. After medical circumcision, youth participated in education modules. Data collected included qualitative semi-structured exit interviews featuring structured and open-ended questions about factors relevant to this intervention's acceptability.
There were 116 SCY (median age 14, IQR 13–15) who participated in the study. All were circumcised successfully, with no major complications. The majority of participants (81%) agreed that the circumcision procedure was uncomplicated, and 99% agreed the education was an important part of the initiation process. Thematic analysis of interview data highlighted four factors important to the program's acceptability: providing food, shelter, security; providing a safe place to heal; including traditional elements; and being with peers.
This novel implementation of VMMC was found to be acceptable to SCY participants and could likely be adapted and scaled for HIV prevention and education with SCY elsewhere in Kenya and sub–Saharan Africa where circumcision is part of traditional coming-of-age processes.