Educationally relevant socio-cultural characteristics of young from unhygienic settlements

Abstract

Young people from unhygienic settlements (YUHS) aged 15-20 years are a specific group usually outside the compulsory education system due to deprived life conditions and different cultural characteristics. The aim of this study was to identify the specificity of YUHS and adjust educational programs accordingly. Successful acquirement of knowledge and skills and the probability of equal participation of YUHS in the general society would be fostered by this. A custom-made questionnaire with multiple choice questions was administered targeting general cultural and information sharing process characteristics. It was completed by 148 young people from the general (YGP) and the target population. Data was analyzed using desctiptive statistics (frequences and percentages). It was showed that YUHS value warmth and equality, but are more prone to accepting authority and rigor in different types of interpersonal relationships. They have stronger collectivistic (than individualistic) values, future (and not present) orientation, internal (and not external) locus of control and a similar relationship to the rules as YGP. Unlike YGP, YUHS often do not confide personal matters to anyone, sharing private information primarily with friends. These findings reveal the need for different educational programs and indicate the specific form and content of those programs that are likely to be most beneficial for YUHS