Identifying Strategies for Empowering Students to Participate in Local Development
Keywords:
Student Empowerment, Local Participation, Citizenship Education, School and Community, Sustainable Development, Participatory LearningAbstract
This study aimed to identify strategies for empowering students to participate in local development, with a focus on cognitive, social, and psychological dimensions. A qualitative design using inductive content analysis was adopted. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 21 teachers, school principals, education experts, and social activists in Tehran. Participants were selected through purposive sampling and interviews continued until theoretical saturation. All interviews were transcribed and analyzed using NVivo software. The analysis revealed three main categories: "Cognitive Empowerment and Education," "School–Community Interaction," and "Psychological and Motivational Support." Each category included subthemes such as local literacy enhancement, social participation training, family engagement, leveraging local institutions, fostering self-efficacy, and providing a psychologically safe environment. These components were found to play an essential role in student empowerment for active local involvement. Empowering students for participation in local development requires multilayered strategies across cognitive, social, and emotional domains. Effective school–community linkage, participatory skills education, self-belief reinforcement, and opportunities for real engagement are key enablers. The findings provide insights for curriculum developers, educational policymakers, and community-based intervention planners.
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