Assessment of the status of out-of-school street children in Islamabad and Rawalpindi cities, Pakistan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47264/idea.lassij/8.1.3Keywords:
Street children, Out of school children, Free education, Formal education, Poverty, Lack of awareness of parents, Education policy, Civil society, Child labourAbstract
The study aims to assess street children's challenges in getting a quality education and find strategies and policies for improving their formal education opportunities. Unfortunately, street children in Pakistan are unable to get an education, and even out-of-school street children do not have access to free education. Due to poverty, lack of awareness, and other significant conditions, they are unable to attend school. They have the right to get a formal education and play their role in society like other children. This study results show that most out-of-school street children undergo financial issues and other family problems, due to which they are unable to continue their education. Therefore, they become child labourers, beggars, car cleaners, etc. Sometimes, they forcefully work to meet their basic day-to-day needs. The research is based on qualitative and quantitative research methods collected through interviews with the primary respondents, including street children’s parents, surveys, questionnaires and case studies; the paper will also identify the main factor contributing to the exclusion of street children getting a formal education. The findings show the importance of an inclusive approach combining education, civil society support, NGOs and community engagement to empower street children to get formal education.
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