Management Methodology for Preventing Dropout in Israeli High Schools in the Arab Sector: Sport as a Useful Instrument for Limiting This Phenomenon

Background: Nowadays, not completing high school negatively impacts both the lives of those who drop out and society as a whole. Dropout rates of Arabs students are high, and sport participation as an approach can reduce this phenomenon.

Aims: To develop an effective management methodology system for preventing high school dropout in Israel and to evaluate the impact of sports activity on students` integration in school.

Method: The School Is a Chance to Succeed intervention program included 53 students, with 10 meetings of 2.5 hours each. The aims of the program included: 1) to enhance student engagement at school; 2) to increase students’ educational aspects; 3) to reduce risk factors; and 4) to increase occupational aspirations.

Results: The intervention program was successful in enhancing both cognitive and psychological engagement in school of students at risk of dropping out. It also increased the educational aspects of students as related to school learning motivation, learning self-efficacy and belonging to school. In addition, it increased occupational aspirations of students at risk of dropping out.

Discussion and Conclusions:

The theoretical approach and the experimental application of the management methodology for preventing dropout in Israeli high schools in the Arab sector was confirmed. Activating students in school sports can increase their affiliation to and sense of belonging to and love of school.