School Community Research Articles

Community involvement in adolescent pregnancy prevention: A literature review

The objective of this study was to assess the influence of various community factors, including parents, peers, schools, and community leaders in initiatives aimed at preventing adolescent pregnancy. The methodology involved a comprehensive database search across Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect and ResearchGate. The primary search terms used were ‘community roles’ and ‘prevention of adolescent pregnancy’. There were seven articles obtained for analysis of the suitability of the topics, objectives, methods used, sample size, and results in each article. We evaluated the relevance of selected articles for their relevance to the topic, alignment with research objectives, research methods employed, sample sizes, and the results presented in each article. The main findings indicate that community factors play crucial roles in supporting adolescent pregnancy prevention. This study explores the significance of the community, encompassing peers, parents, schools, and the environment as key support and social control factors within the framework of adolescents’ pregnancy prevention.

Bullying victimization in schools in the United Arab Emirates: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundDespite the implementation of antibullying policies, schools in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) witnessed an increase in bullying prevalence. The aim of our study was to assess bullying victimization in schools in the UAE, types of bullying, and factors and outcomes related to bullying behavior.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted in randomly selected private and public schools in Al Ain City. A structured, self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from students in grades 6–8 (Ages 10–15). We adapted the US CDC ‘Bully Survey’ for cultural relevance in the UAE through feedback from focus group meetings with teachers. Data analysis, conducted using R software, involved stratified analysis by school type and utilized Chi-Squared and Fisher’s exact tests to identify factors associated with school bullying.ResultsThe study sample consisted of 723 students of whom 68% were males, and 58% were Emirati nationals. The overall prevalence of bullying victimization in schools was 37%, with 40% in private schools and 35% in public schools. Cyberbullying was more prevalent in private schools (37%). Physical bullying was reported by 20% and verbal bullying by 12%, with a higher prevalence of physical bullying in private schools (24%) and among males (23%). The study’s findings showed significant emotional and academic impacts of bullying, including feelings of sadness and learning difficulties, contributing to a rise in school absenteeism.ConclusionsThe study reveals widespread bullying victimization in UAE schools, mainly in classrooms, with group exclusion and verbal abuse as key forms. It underscores bullying’s psychological impact and the greater awareness of parents compared to teachers. The effective intervention strategies should not only involve students, teachers, and school staff, but also actively engage parents by fostering stronger communication channels between schools and families, and providing parents with resources and training to recognize and address bullying. These strategies should aim to create a cohesive network involving the entire school community, thus fostering a safer and more inclusive environment for students. The findings stress the need for inclusive antibullying programs involving the entire school community to foster a safer environment.

Health promotion intervention in at-risk South African primary schools

Background: Interventions to promote health have been implemented in some urban settings. However, school-based health promotion interventions in at-risk urban schools have not been thoroughly investigated. Objective: This article investigates teachers’ perceptions regarding health promotion interventions with the main goal of establishing social change in at-risk school communities. Design: The study used phenomenology as a theoretical lens supported by the use of a qualitative research approach. As a theoretical framework, the researchers utilised Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory. Setting: The investigation used a descriptive case study design to select 17 teachers from 2 at-risk urban primary schools in Pretoria. Methods: Visual data including participatory reflection action posters and photographs, and field notes were part of the data collection techniques. Findings: Teachers’ responses informed how school-based health promotion interventions can be developed in the foundation phase of education. Themes relevant to this included recognition of the importance of education in bringing about social change; involving the whole community in developing health promotion projects; working closely with parents; promoting physical activity; and advocating for nutritional literacy. Goals can best be achieved through a focus on nutritional needs, physical health and social needs of at-risk communities. Conclusion: Findings from this study can be used to inform at-risk communities about food consumption, optimum physical activities and positive socio-emotional actions. Beyond this, young professionals entering the field of education should be encouraged to develop awareness of how school-based health promotion programmes can benefit the health and well-being of children.

A INCLUSÃO DA CRIANÇA AUTISTA EM SALA DE AULA REGULAR

Introduction: Autism is a neurological disorder that mainly affects the communication, social interaction and behavior of the person with it. It is part of a wide range of conditions known as autism spectrum disorders (ASD), which include different characteristics and degrees of severity. Objective: To explore the evidence and strategies that underpin and improve the effectiveness of inclusion, contributing to the construction of solid and applicable knowledge that benefits not only autistic children, but the entire school community and, by extension, society as a whole. Methodology: This was a field study carried out in public schools in the city of Alvorada-TO with teachers who work in inclusive education for students with ASD. Final considerations: we concluded that there are still difficulties in developing inclusive education for students with ASD.

Transformational Leadership as a Strategy to Improve Working Relations in Schools through Islamic Values

The research investigates the role of transformational leadership as an effective strategy for improving working relationships in schools by integrating Islamic values. The study explores how leadership that motivates, inspires, and empowers individuals within the educational environment can create a positive work atmosphere. Islamic values such as honesty, cooperation, mutual trust, and responsibility are central to building harmonious relationships among teachers, students, and the broader school community. The research employs a systematic literature review methodology, gathering data from academic journals, books, and relevant articles. The principal findings suggest that transformational leadership based on Islamic values not only enhances collaboration but also fosters a warm, empathetic, and supportive school environment, contributing to both character development and academic success. In conclusion, transformational leadership, underpinned by Islamic values, plays a critical role in fostering a cooperative and trust-based school culture. This leadership model positively impacts the broader educational system, making it a significant contribution to the field of educational leadership, especially within Islamic education contexts.

Peran Manajerial Kepala Sekolah dan Partisipasi Masyarakat dalam Implementasi Kurikulum Merdeka di SDN Gunung Picung 07 Pamijahan Bogor

This research examines the managerial role of the school principal and community participation in the implementation of the Independent Curriculum at SDN Gunung Picung 07 Pamijahan, Bogor. This research aims to identify the impact of the school principal's managerial role and community involvement on the success of curriculum implementation. With a qualitative approach, data is collected through observation, interviews and documentation, and analyzed inductively using triangulation techniques to ensure validity. The research results show that the managerial role of the school principal and community participation, including parental involvement and the Foster Friends Movement (GERTA) program, play an important role in the successful implementation of the Independent Curriculum. The successful implementation of this curriculum depends on strong principal management, active community participation, as well as support and innovation in teaching methods, which overall support effective curriculum implementation and bring positive change in education.

The interplay of job embeddedness, collective efficacy, and work meaningfulness on teacher well-being: a mixed-methods study with digital ethnography in China.

This study examines the influence of teacher job embeddedness, collective efficacy, and work meaningfulness on the psychological well-being of Chinese teachers. The focus is on understanding how these constructs contribute to teacher well-being through a mixed-methods approach. A two-stage structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis was conducted using quantitative data collected from 406 in-service Chinese teachers. The study also incorporated a qualitative phase involving digital ethnography within online teaching communities to provide deeper insights into teachers' experiences. The quantitative analysis revealed significant positive direct effects of job embeddedness, collective efficacy, and work meaningfulness on psychological well-being, with work meaningfulness showing the strongest effect. The mediating role of work meaningfulness partially explained the relationships between job embeddedness, collective efficacy, and teacher well-being. The qualitative findings supported and expanded upon these results, emphasizing the role of a supportive school community and strong administrative leadership. The results suggest that enhancing job embeddedness, collective efficacy, and work meaningfulness can significantly contribute to teachers' psychological well-being. These findings provide actionable insights for school leaders and policymakers in the Chinese educational system to foster environments that promote teacher well-being.

Integrasi Kewirausahaan dan Pendidikan Islam dalam Peningkatan Kesejahteraan Masyarakat

The integration of Islamic education with entrepreneurship is an effort to bring about changes in people's quality of life, attitudes and decision making. Especially for students studying at Islamic boarding schools, this knowledge is very important to learn. In this research, researchers used a qualitative descriptive approach using observation, interviews and documentation. Determining informants using the proportional sampling method. This research found: 1) integration of entrepreneurship and Islamic education is needed to improve the welfare of the community in that location because: a) community leaders are very steeped in religion so they always prioritize religion in everything. b) portrait of the diversity of livelihoods of the surrounding community; c) to establish social, religious and entrepreneurial relations with the surrounding community; 2) implementation of the integration of entrepreneurship and Islamic education in improving the welfare of the Sangen Modern Islamic Boarding School community is carried out by implementing entrepreneurship programs in the fields of fisheries, agriculture and cooperatives/canteens within the Islamic boarding school. Keywords: Integration; Entrepreneurship; Islamic education; Well-being Public

Living with psychotropic drugs: A community photovoice study in people with high treatment adherence in Southeastern Spain

Adherence to psychopharmacological treatment essentially involves a process of meaning-making. The objective of this study was to explore the experience of people undergoing chronic psychiatric treatment from the patients’ perspective. In 2018, using the photovoice methodology, four sessions were conducted with the participation of 11 individuals from a community school in a socially marginalized neighborhood of a southeastern Spanish city, some of whom were also users of a social rehabilitation and integration center and a day center. Participants took and selected 41 photographs under the premise: “Photograph your experience regarding health and medication.” A categorization of the emerging narratives was carried out during a dialogical session between participants and researchers, which was recorded for subsequent transcription and analysis. The experiences were divided into two major symbolic themes that seek to give therapeutic meaning to medication: one of conflict and the other of motivation.

SustentAÇÃO: E-learning training on food sustainability for teachers in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area

Abstract Background It is essential to address food sustainability (FS) within the school community to enhance both public and environmental health. In Portugal, in the scope of AML Alimenta, teachers’ training on FS was identified as a priority. Therefore, local partners along with academia developed, implemented, monitored, and evaluated the SustentAÇÃO. Objectives SustentAÇÃO aimed to empower school teachers in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area to teach students between 6 and 14 years old on FS. The program consisted of 10 hours of asynchronous online learning (MoodleTM), structured in 4 modules, and 10 hours of autonomous learning (5 students’ educational sessions), offering autonomy and flexible time management. The contents were adapted for different age groups. The teacher’s performance was monitored and evaluated continuously. A process evaluation was conducted for both teachers and students. Results Of the 79 teachers enrolled, 47% completed the program. Teachers’ performance (0-20) on the 4 evaluation questionnaires was on average 17,9±3,13. Most teachers found the program benefited their work (94%) and considered it essential for enhancing student’s knowledge (98%). Considering overall satisfaction, 85% of teachers were satisfied or very satisfied with the training and 91% would recommend it to their colleagues. Additionally, 86% of students enjoyed the activities delivered, 76% considered that they were wasting less food, and 78% believed they had improved their ability to make healthier and more sustainable food choices. Conclusions Through a collaborative work between local partners and academia, an innovative e-learning training programme on FS was developed, implemented, monitored, and evaluated, responding to the local needs identified. SustentAÇÃO complies with national education guidelines and contributes to the sustainable development goals agenda. Key messages • SustentAÇÃO E-learning training highlights the importance of collaborative work, based on an initial assessment to target local needs. • SustentAÇÃO E-learning training improve teachers’ knowledge on FS and benefit their students.

Assessing Equity and Emotional Wellbeing: A Critical Look at NAPLAN in Australian Schools

The National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a pivotal educational reform in Australia that aims to assess students' literacy and numeracy skills. Since its introduction in 2008, NAPLAN has sparked significant debate regarding its effectiveness and equity. This paper critically examines the promises and pitfalls of NAPLAN, focusing on its impact on educational equity, the socio-emotional well-being of students, and school management practices. While NAPLAN is designed to address inequalities and improve educational outcomes, research suggests that it may inadvertently exacerbate disparities between schools, particularly affecting students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Furthermore, the high-stakes nature of the test can induce anxiety among students and educators, particularly in low-performing schools. This paper also includes a case study of Croydon Community School, an alternative secondary school in Melbourne, to illustrate the diverse impacts of NAPLAN on student performance, socio-educational advantage, and cultural diversity. In conclusion, while NAPLAN provides valuable data on student performance, it must be complemented by broader assessment practices and policies that prioritize diversity and inclusion to fully address its limitations.

Process and practice in New Zealand Enviroschool implementation

This qualitative study explores the practices and processes associated with implementing the Enviroschools approach. Enviroschools aim to nurture healthy and sustainable communities through learning and taking action collaboratively. The approach is implemented in over 1600 early childhood centres, primary, intermediate and secondary schools in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 26 participating teachers, school leaders and Enviroschool facilitators and co-ordinators across 6 regions nationwide. Transcripts were analysed through thematic analysis. Two themes were developed to situate and describe participants’ experiences of implementing the approach: forming relationships through attunement and sustaining relationships through critical reflection. Both of these themes speak to the value of applying a relational lens to understand the implementation of systems approaches, particularly in school settings. Our findings also suggest that there is a need for and an appreciation of systems approaches to nurturing wellbeing and sustainability in school communities and that extending systems thinking to the implementation of these approaches can help to bring the interconnections between health and sustainability to life in meaningful ways. The participants valued viewing and approaching implementation as a journey that develops proximal and more distant currents of change over time. Further research to explore the mechansisms of change and how these lead to outcomes may help to translate the practices and processes of implementation.

Sustainability of a dual language program during and beyond COVID-19 challenges

ABSTRACT This study evaluates the Dual Language Program (DLP) implemented at a Title I public school in Baltimore City during the 2019–2020 and 2020–2021 school years. Building on previous research, the DLP's implementation, sustainability, and effects on students’ learning outcomes were examined. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the study’s second phase included participants from the school’s mainstream, English-only program (MP), enriching the overall understanding of the school community’s perception of the program. Data were collected through surveys, classroom observations, and standardized assessments—the DIBELS and the iReady Diagnostic assessments. Findings showed challenges with curriculum standardization and prevalent misconceptions about bilingualism. Nevertheless, the program's successes were evident in DLP students’ enhanced engagement, parental involvement, and community support. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the DLP demonstrated its capacity for scaleability and sustainability. During the 2020–2021 school year, regardless of virtual learning, DLP students not only maintained but, in the case of Cohort 1, showed greater growth in reading skills compared to MP students, with Cohort 3 DLP students improving to reach statistically similar performance levels to their MP peers. Findings indicate that the DLP has the potential to serve as a sustainable educational program, fostering both dual language proficiency and academic outcomes.

Exploring Entrepreneurial Intention and Student Engagement of Youth Living in Poverty.

Graduating from secondary education for adolescents living in poverty is challenging. Strong entrepreneurial intention and student engagement among youth living in poverty often play a protective role in reducing school dropout and fostering school completion, which results in improved educational attainment. However, research on this topic is scarce. A total of 1135 adolescents took part in this cross-sectional study, 50.9% of which were females. On average, they were 16.4 years old. They were all upper secondary school students from ten public and private schools in Lebanon. They completed instruments measuring entrepreneurial intention and student engagement. This study explored the covariate associations between risk and promotive factors through four dimensions of entrepreneurial intention and two components of student engagement (cognitive and psychological engagement). It shows positive associations for entrepreneurial intention with both individual factors (age) and social factors (working mother and private school). Negative associations for student engagement were found in all (individual and social) factors with the exception of the father's job, which did not present any association. The findings provide insight for policymaking to empower schools to promote school completion and educational attainment among these youth by providing policy initiatives and school-based interventions that target entrepreneurial exposure and engagement strengthening, hence meeting young people's individual, family, and school community needs.

Smoking Behavior of High School Students in Jambi City

Cigarettes are addictive substances that, when used, can cause a number of adverse health effects. The objective of this study was to ascertain the proportion of schools that conduct eight assessments of smoke-free area indicators, gain insight into the role of officers, and evaluate the supervision of smoke-free area policies. This study employed a qualitative descriptive approach, utilizing in-depth interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) as its primary methods of data collection. Purposive sampling strategy used for qualitative research, with a sample size of 17 informants. The qualitative analysis was conducted using the Open Code application. The findings of this study indicate that the majority of the school community is aware of the dangers of smoking and the No Smoking Area policy. However, the role of officers and supervision of the No Smoking Area is still not being carried out effectively. The study findings indicate that schools in Jambi City have not implemented the No Smoking Area policy.

Toward promoting resilience of gender and sexually diverse youth in South African rural school ecologies

IntroductionGender and sexually diverse youth in schools experience exclusion, which detrimentally affects their ability to cope with the consequences of minority stress and may lead to absenteeism or dropout. The purpose of the study is to highlight a pressing need for inclusive policies and practices to aid in enabling LGBTQ+ learners in schools.MethodsThis paper explores how multiple systems intersect to promote a sense of inclusion and engagement within the school environment and impact the resilience of LGBTQ+ youth in a rural school setting. This paper presents findings from a qualitative interpretive phenomenological study with twelve purposively selected self-identifying LGBTQ+ youth residing in a rural South African community. Data was gathered through semi-structured interviews.ResultsThis study shows the significance of teacher emotional support, addressing homophobic bullying, moving away from gender-based uniform prescriptions and designating some school bathrooms as gender-neutral to LGBTQ+ learners' resilience.ConclusionThe findings of this study demonstrate how certain schools in rural settings employ innovative methods to support LGBTQ+ learners despite limited resources and the absence of comprehensive, inclusive policies on gender and sexually diverse learners. The findings have implications for LGBTQ+ learners in rural community schools worldwide. Future longitudinal studies could focus on how school ecologies inclusive of teachers, parents and the wider community can foster the resilience of LGBTQ+ learners, particularly in rural community contexts.

Evaluating the Socioecological Classroom in Full-Service Schools: A Whole-School Approach to the Inclusive Education Context in South Africa

This paper evaluates the socioecological classroom in the context of a whole-school approach to inclusive education, which has evolved beyond the traditional classroom setting. Inclusive education calls for a paradigm shift to accommodate learners previously marginalised, with the classroom transforming into an ecosystem. The socioecological paradigm steers away from the notion that psychological and physiological elements are the main causes of disability. The importance of addressing multiple layers of influence is emphasised to create a supportive and inclusive learning environment. First, Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, which emphatically explains how a learner’s development is influenced by the systems in the environment that surrounds them, and then Foucault’s Theory of Power and Knowledge, in which power and knowledge are interconnected and inseparable, with power being exercised through the creation and control of knowledge, guided this study. A qualitative approach was adopted, and semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and non-participant observation were used to collect data. Phenomenological analysis was used to analyse the data from these data-collecting instruments. It was found that learners with disabilities need support at home, with imbalances being found in the power–knowledge relations between teachers and parents, and teachers occupying a superior position regarding academic knowledge. Some teachers still believe in the Medical-Deficit Model. A strengths-based approach should rather be adopted. Strategies for enhancing community–school collaboration that balances teacher–parent power dynamics should be explored.

Perceptions and Practices of Educational Leadership in Community Schools of Kathmandu Metropolitan City

Perceptions and Practices of Educational Leadership in Community Schools of Kathmandu Metropolitan City

Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around: A Principals Fight Against Traditional Educator Pathways to Staff an Underperforming School in the Rural South

Marcus, a young principal hired to turn around an underperforming school in the rural South, struggles to stabilize the school’s current staffing challenges. Throughout the case study, Marcus navigates recruiting and retaining teachers; however, he also creates an innovative partnership that enables him to train prospective teachers on his campus. The purpose of this case study is to encourage school leaders to pursue non-traditional solutions to staffing. This case also benefits graduate students in education policy, principalship preparation, and educational administration. Further, this case benefits leaders struggling to staff schools in under-resourced communities like the ones in the rural South.

Does Students’ Socioeconomic Status Moderate the Relationship between Growth Mindset and Learning Achievement: Evidence from PISA 2018 for Kazakhstan

Multiple studies demonstrate a positive association between having a growth mindset and learning achievement. However, recent research reveals that several aspects might moderate this relationship, such as psychological factors, the socioeconomic background of families, sense of belonging to school community, or school characteristics. The present study examines how socioeconomic status (SES) moderates the relationship between growth mindset and academic performance in reading drawing on a nationally representative sample of Kazakhstani students from the PISA 2018 database. The findings suggest that the socioeconomic status of students is a significant moderator in the relationship between growth mindset and learning achievement. The results show that beliefs about growth mindset account for higher learning achievement among both high and low-SES students in Kazakhstan. The last section discusses the policy implications these results have for Kazakhstan.