THE IMPACT OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION POLICIES AND PRACTICES ON YOUTH AT RISK AND SCHOOL DROPOUTS IN THE ARAB COMMUNITY IN ISRAEL
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v13i7.6882Keywords:
public administration policies, youth at risk, school dropouts, Arab community in Israel, policy implementationAbstract
This study aimed to examine the impact of public administration policies and practices on at-risk youth and school dropouts in the Arab community in Israel, focusing on policy implementation, service accessibility, and the challenges affecting the effectiveness of existing interventions. The study adopted a qualitative research approach through semi-structured interviews conducted with a purposive sample of 39 professionals and key stakeholders working in educational, social, administrative, and health sectors related to youth at risk and school dropout issues. The interview data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify the main themes reflecting participants’ experiences and perspectives. The findings revealed that the main challenge facing youth policies is not the lack of programs, but rather the gap between policy development and effective implementation. Despite the availability of various governmental frameworks, limited follow-up, administrative barriers, insufficient resources, and weak coordination among institutions have reduced the ability of policies to reach Arab youth and create sustainable impacts. The results also indicated that existing services do not always adequately address the social, cultural, and economic realities of Arab youth, and that youth participation in policy processes remains mainly formal rather than influential. Based on the findings, the researcher recommended strengthening policy implementation mechanisms, simplifying access to youth services, developing flexible programs that respond to local community needs, and establishing effective frameworks to enhance youth participation in policy design and evaluation.References
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