Review article

YOUTH-CENTERED POLICIES IN EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

Vlasta Ilišin ; Institute for Social Research, Zagreb, Croatia
Ivona Mendeš ; Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Dunja Potočnik orcid.org/0000-0003-1256-2660 ; Institute for Social Research, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

This article is about those young people who find themselves at one of the most uncertain life junctures – the transition from the educational system to the employment system. In Croatia, both systems suffer from flaws that may mean a plethora of difficulties for young people in the process of their social integration. The dropouts from the educational system are in the worst position, since the data show they will have the hardest time in finding a satisfactory (or an adequate) job. Several groups of young people are particularly at risk here: underachievers at school, those with a lower socioeconomic status i.e. impoverished young people who live in war-ravaged areas and who most probably were eyewitnesses and victims of wartime atrocities and hardship, persons with mental and psychological handicaps and young Romanies. Despite the evident shortcomings of the Croatian educational system, it turns out that each generation is on the average more educated than the previous one. An analysis of the educational composition of the Croatian population has identified certain significant changes and the emergence of certain new developments, the most intriguing of which is the inferior educational performance of men. The increased unemployment rate is a consequence of the problems besetting the Croatian society, exacerbated by the structural economic crisis. The unemployment of young people has some specific consequences that, due to their longterm effects, prevent young people to assume an active role in the society. An analysis of the basic statistical indicators regarding the unemployment of young people, of the consequences of their unemployment and of the methods of its reduction, point to the weakest spot in the treatment of young people by the Croatian system of employment. The article also brings a brief review of youth-centred policies, as stated in the National program for youth-related activities that was published in the form of a study by the National institute for the protection of family, motherhood and young people at the beginning of 2003. The National program underscores the importance of government commitment and guidance in education, employment and social policy concerning young people.

Keywords

young people; education; educational composition of the population; school dropouts; unemployment; employment; youth policy; Croatia

Hrčak ID:

23076

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/23076

Publication date:

22.3.2004.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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