Concept Paper-Out of School Children

Concept Paper
(Eliminating Illiteracy-Caring for Out-of-School/Vulnerable Children)
Introduction
In Pakistan, over 25 Million children are out of school, therefore it is crucial that all human and material resources are mobilized to bring children in schools. This concept paper is prepared in the context of Planning commission’s vision 2025 to achieve one of its major objectives of building a knowledge society and knowledge economy. Though mainly it is the responsibility of parents to raise, educate and protect their children. But in situations where basic needs are not being met and children become vulnerable, the Government has to step in. This concept paper intends to provide a brief overview of the major problem of out of school children in Pakistan, its causes, impact and strategies to ensure that each child gets its right to education. Goals and Objectives
To help each out of school child not only to have a right to education but to ensure that each Pakistani child is:
In school;
Educated upto secondary level of education.
Provided formal counseling to explore his/her aptitude, make right choice of subjects of study, and enjoy learning and perform well.

Issue/Problem
Recent data from the Status of Education Report (ASER, 2012) suggests that 23% of rural and 7% of urban children, aged 6-16 years have no access to elementary education and are out of schools, with girls being significantly lagging behind boys in the rural areas. Global Monitoring Report (2012) has rated Pakistan as the second highest amongst the countries with the most out-of-school children. The UNDP’s MDG report suggests that Pakistan will not be able to achieve its education goals until 2015. It is reported that approximately 50% of enrolled children drop out before completing primary education. According to another estimate, 63% of pre-primary age children do not attend school. In Punjab province, pre-primary out-of-school rate is 50% with Baluchistan being on the top with 78% of the children not attending school. This is an alarming situation with grave micro and macro level implications for the society and the individual child. As per Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (Sparc) report, the the previous governments reduced spending on education from 2.6 % to 2.3 % of the GNP (gross national product) during last 10 years and therefore has been ranked as 113th of 120 countries on education development index. Pakistan therefore has come across the lowest youth literacy rate of around 71 %. In the age group of 15-24, only 61 % girls are literate as compared to 79
% boys.

Causes:
Children living in poverty are three times more likely to be out of school than their wealthier peers, keeping them from the learning that could allow them more prosperous and stable futures.
Rapid increase in population
Lack of awareness and illiteracy among parents
Lack of interest and motivation in children
Syllabi, Courses and Pedagogy
Less trained and de-motivated school teachers

Effects:
Illiteracy furthers poverty, a child on street is more vulnerable and easy target of all types of abuse, drug use, deviant behavior, may develop criminal tendencies and indulge in criminal behavior, thereby putting adverse effects on the child as such and society as a whole.

Solutions/Measures (Short term and Long term)
To prioritize education at all levels, with special emphasis on primary/elementary education by allocating substantial funds in this sector.
To raise awareness on value and benefits of education in common masses through media, mosques, engaging youth and running massive awareness campaign across the country.
To identify factors that are major cause of children drop-outs at primary level such as psychological, health, social, economic, emotional, academic and cultural factors behind dropouts.
To initiate fees assistance programs for helping needy/poor children continue their education and ensuring class attendance, thereby reducing drop-out rates.
To incentivize enrollment in school both for children and also parents.
To make teaching and learning a fun process rather than a scary one,
To encourage friendly teaching and learning environment at schools.
To devise sound policies for bringing children in school and impose penalties on parents who do not send children to school.
To provide support to the most vulnerable children who experience a tough time in a system of education, particularly at the time of their movement to and from schools to ensure their presence in schools. Schools, government institutions and NGOs can play their role to help such children pursue their dreams by offering:
Support services for children with disabilities
Additional classroom assistance for children with learning difficulties
Parental love and care for children without parents
Relationship support for struggling parents.
To provide financial support directly to schools to cover academic cost of education for the children belonging to poor families.
To mobilize NGOs, social workers, government health, education, social protection and justice institutions to share information and respond to the needs of vulnerable children.
Street committees be formed (local bodies) to ensure children seen on streets during school times are taken in safe custody and sent to schools.
Heavy penalties for those who employ children i.e. child labour (domestic, factory, workshops etc).

Benefits/Anticipated Outcomes
Education is a crucial process for successful development and a major tool to meet MDGs if it is assured at all level. The paybacks of an educated society are wide-reaching and underpin nearly all of the development challenges addressed by the MDGs. Educating children no doubt helps in reducing poverty. It can be instrumental in eradication of poverty, frustration at individual and social level, alleviating crime rate, help inculcate sense of responsibility, justice, commitment and citizenship.

Conclusion:
The right to education is a fundamental aspect of a human being. A nation can’t make progress without a sound system of education. The efforts being undertaken by the present government for elimination of illiteracy by feeling the pulse of out-of-school /vulnerable children and realizing the dream of knowledge based economy are laudable. With the determination and strong political-will the government is committed to by prioritizing education sector, days are not far the present government will be able to achieve its vision of educated and developed Pakistan.