National youth program

3.6. Goals
•
to ensure the conditions for education, employment, housing, founding families, i.e. 
gaining independence to young people, through incentive measures
•
to ensure equalizing of life opportunities and reducing risks of social exclusion, 
discrimination and early dropping out of school to young people who live in particularly 
difficult conditions, youth with disabilities and those who are in an unfavourable 
position in other ways
•
to ensure the implementation of preventive, educational, socialization and treatment 
programs that provide support to all young persons, and particularly those at risk, such 
as: youth with disabilities, youth with behavioural disorders, elementary or high school 
drop-outs and those lacking family support, on the territory of the entire Republic of 
Croatia
•
to stimulate and support the implementation of systematic research on youth, paying 
special attention to risky youth groups in order to ensure an expert foundation for 
conceiving and implementing the appropriate social policy for youth
3.7. Measures and activities
Measure 1. TO PREVENT NON-ATTENDANCE AND LEAVING SCHOOL BY ENCOURAGING 
CONTINUING EDUCATION
IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES:
DURATION OF 
IMPLEMENTATION:
1.1. To start the evidence and monitor statistical indicators of primary and 
high school non-attendance, as well as of dropping out of school completely.
2009
1.2. To conduct a research that would determine objective, subjective and 
institutional causes of non-attendance and dropping out among young 
persons in the Republic of Croatia. To determine risk groups, early signals 
and risk factors for dropping out of school. To determine more acceptable 
forms of acquiring qualifications for young persons who have dropped out 
of school.
2009 – 2010
1.3. To develop national prevention strategies on the basis of research, with 
the emphasis on strategies directed to risk groups and risk factors in order 
to help young persons stay in school, start high school and obtain support 
during school.
2009 – 2010
1.4. To co-finance projects by civil society organizations developing systems 
of programs providing support to young persons facing the risk of dropping 
out of school, involving individual tutors, mentors, and role models such as 
older/retired persons and persons from the Roma community.
ongoing

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CARRIER:
Ministry of Science, Education and Sport
COLLABORATORS IN THE 
IMPLEMENTATION:
Ministry of Health and Social Welfare
Agency for Upbringing and Education
Croatian Employment Service
State Institute for Statistics
Office for NGOs of the Government of the Republic of Croatia
civil society organizations working with youth
FUNDING:
Ministry of Science, Education and Sport
REQUIRED FUNDING:
resources from regular activities of state administration bodies
IMPLEMENTATION 
INDICATORS:
− annual statistics reports on primary school non-attendance, 
number of young persons who have not started high school or 
those who dropped out of high school
− research about the causes of school non-attendance and 
dropping out conducted, risk factors and early indicators 
determined, along with forms of acquiring qualifications 
acceptable to young persons
− national prevention strategy developed with particular emphasis 
on risk groups
− developed system of mentor programs accessible to everyone in 
need
Measure 2. DEVELOPMENT OF A SCHOLARSHIP AND CREDIT LINE SYSTEM FOR PUPILS AND 
STUDENTS, AND SYSTEMATIC INFORMING ON SCHOLARSHIPS AND CREDIT 
LINES
IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES:
DURATION OF 
IMPLEMENTATION:
2.1. To develop a scholarship system for pupils who successfully attend high 
school and to monitor performance of the system.
ongoing
2.2. To develop scholarship and credit line systems for persons at professional 
and academic, and post-graduate studies and to monitor performance of 
the system.
ongoing
2.3. To develop scholarship programs for pupils and students from socially 
isolated groups, young persons with disabilities and those living in isolated 
areas, and to monitor their implementation.
ongoing
2.4. To issue instructions to pedagogical services of educational institutions 
about the importance of development of additional counselling activities 
and providing particular support to pupils and students from socially 
excluded groups, those with disabilities, and those living in isolated areas. 
To submit reports about these activities to authorized bodies of state 
administration.
ongoing

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2.5. To provide material support for higher education to young persons who 
are, due to insufficient family support, living in institutions or foster homes.
ongoing
2.6. To provide incentive and to support financially activities and projects 
aimed at informing of the possibilities of education and additional 
education of young persons from socially excluded groups with less access 
to information.
ongoing
CARRIER:
Ministry of Science, Education and Sport
COLLABORATORS IN THE 
IMPLEMENTATION:
Croatian Employment Service
trades and crafts associations and employers’ associations
FUNDING:
Ministry of Science, Education and Sport
REQUIRED FUNDING:
resources from regular activities of state administration bodies
IMPLEMENTATION 
INDICATORS:
− existence of efficient scholarship programs and credit lines for 
students in under and post-graduate studies
− drafted performance evaluations of scholarship programs
− webpage created, the number of visits to the website, including 
user satisfaction
− drafted brochures/pamphlets/adds providing information on 
scholarship opportunities and education credit lines for young 
persons