Access to Education of Street Children in Bangalore

Abstract

the study set out to explore the status of central and state level newlinepolicies towards street children and their education. It was found that though rigorous newlinepolicies have been formulated for the children s education in general, there is none that newlinespecifically looks into the category of street children. Moreover, the access of education newlinefor the children who are out-of-school (which may include street children as well) is not newlinevery well formulated, and implemented by the respective authorities. Moreover, there newlineare no comprehensive documents to define who the street children are in the first place, newlineso that they can be identified and then looked at as a separate category of children which newlineneed to be included in the policy discussions. Until the government and relevant newlineauthorities define who the street children are, it will be very difficult for the various newlineinstitutions working for the street children, as well as the children themselves, to get a newlinejust treatment. When discussing about the reasons to leave school, and their parents, most of the newlinechildren cited poverty as a reason to leave the family, as well as schooling.The other glaring problems are of addiction or substance abuse of the children, along newlinewith sexual harassment faced by girls at home and school. Law alone cannot solve the newlineproblem in all of such cases. This requires raising awareness in the community about newlinethe harmful consequences of not only alcoholism, but also substance abuse, and to also newlinehelp the children identify what is sexual exploitation, and that it is unacceptable. The newlinefamilies and the community need to join hands for these endeavours, supported by the newlinegovernment and NGOs. newline