Page 29 - Štremfel, Urška, and Maša Vidmar (eds.). 2018. Early School Leaving: Cooperation Perspectives. Ljubljana: Pedagoški inštitut.
P. 29
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The Emergence, Importance
and Challenges of a Cross-sectorial
Approach to ESL
Urška Štremfel
Synopsis
The multi-faceted natur“e of the ESL problem in turn calls for a mul-
ti-faceted response. Cross-sectoral cooperation is seen a promis-
ing solution in this regard. Although highly promoted in EU poli-
cy documents, it encounters a lack of conceptual clarity and various
challenges to its practical implementation. The proper evaluation
of practices currently in place across the EU would help with its
development.
Summary
At the heart of this article is the declaration (e.g. European
Commission, 2013) “In order to be effective, policies against ESL
should be cross-sectorial and involve stakeholders from different
policy areas”. Conditions for policymaking have changed funda-
mentally in the last decades as reflected in trends towards globali-
sation, multilevel policy networks, privatisation and increased dem-
ocratic participation. It is argued that effective solutions for most
societal problems (including ESL) can no longer be found by the re-
spective individual ministries (traditional administrative silos) but
only through the coordination of goals and instruments established
at different decision-making levels and in various policy areas. In
its focus on the emergence, importance and challenges of cross-sec-
toral cooperation at the system (national, EU) level, the article briefly
29
The Emergence, Importance
and Challenges of a Cross-sectorial
Approach to ESL
Urška Štremfel
Synopsis
The multi-faceted natur“e of the ESL problem in turn calls for a mul-
ti-faceted response. Cross-sectoral cooperation is seen a promis-
ing solution in this regard. Although highly promoted in EU poli-
cy documents, it encounters a lack of conceptual clarity and various
challenges to its practical implementation. The proper evaluation
of practices currently in place across the EU would help with its
development.
Summary
At the heart of this article is the declaration (e.g. European
Commission, 2013) “In order to be effective, policies against ESL
should be cross-sectorial and involve stakeholders from different
policy areas”. Conditions for policymaking have changed funda-
mentally in the last decades as reflected in trends towards globali-
sation, multilevel policy networks, privatisation and increased dem-
ocratic participation. It is argued that effective solutions for most
societal problems (including ESL) can no longer be found by the re-
spective individual ministries (traditional administrative silos) but
only through the coordination of goals and instruments established
at different decision-making levels and in various policy areas. In
its focus on the emergence, importance and challenges of cross-sec-
toral cooperation at the system (national, EU) level, the article briefly
29
