Education is a fundamental right that springs from a person’s very being. An educated and empowered individual helps themselves and society to grow as a whole. Education allows a child to grow in all aspects– be it emotional or social, and lead a dignified life. But what exactly is keeping the children of the 5.1% demographic of India residing in slums from getting a proper education?
Slum Children Deserve A Dignified Life
Children are capable of wonders if they are simply taught to hold a pencil and explore the powers it contains by themselves. All children are alike with their eyes full of wonder and the fire to know more. All of them want to know why the moon follows them everywhere, and the world has a responsibility to not let this fire extinguish.
Unfortunately, most of the children living in Indian slums remain illiterate and grow up to find a living in meager jobs that barely pay them or help their families. The high fees for private schools usually hold parents back from sending their kids to schools. Many of them are forced to start earning during their childhood. Children from the slums usually depend on jobs like rag picking and street performing in order to earn a daily wage to support their families.
Their education is closely linked to the economic progress of the country. The literacy rate of the nation has mostly affected the increase or decline of other key determinants of socio-economic growth. A high drop-out rate is observed among slum children. Late enrollment in schools is also common in these areas due to migratory reasons. Slum children’s education in India is at a critical stage and the country needs to amplify its efforts to bring these children into the fold of quality education.
Challenges of Children Living in Slums
Slums are overcrowded with people trying to live, accommodate themselves in small spaces. The children living in such closed spaces get exposed to various weather-related diseases and are forced to live in unhygienic conditions.
Education is usually not a primary concern in these areas and parents often make their children work to make up for the financial gaps their families must be facing. The children often sell small items like flowers, food items, or picking up garbage to contribute to their family’s income in some way.
Schooling is still a far-fetched concept for many living in these areas. Boys are either made to drop out to support their families, and girls are either married off, and/or make a living as domestic helpers in urban households. Even when families can afford education, they often prioritise the education of boys over girls.
Slum Children’s Education
Education problems in slum areas are making it difficult to improve the living standards of people in slums and the overall conditions of slums as well. Educational institutions around these areas are underdeveloped and provide insufficient learning facilities. Good schools charge a fee overwhelming for many families. Consequently, the slum children end up having low enrollment rates in schools.
Teachers of these institutions are usually not well-qualified. There is a need for teachers to understand what every child requires even more so when they come from slums. A child’s emotional and physical needs are more often than not overlooked. This makes it difficult for a child to learn in these conditions.
Underqualified teaching staff makes it all the more difficult for children to acquire quality education. Children need awareness about the measures to be taken to prevent getting sick.
The Suffering of Slum Children Must Stop
Education is a powerful tool that empowers an individual. It can change the lives of not just one but many. But some instances take away the glimmer of hope from these children. There is disheartening news piece from 2023 about the demolition of an open school run under a flyover in Mayur Vihar, Delhi. It was a makeshift center run by the goodwill of an individual. He wished to provide quality education to 200 children from the nearby slums.
A Dignified Life Ahead
From learning alphabets to digits, rote learning to vocational learning- at every step, children and youth should lead a dignified life with education. Smile Foundation acknowledges and works on the importance of education. With our flagship programme, Mission Education, we strive to provide quality education to slum children. Our initiative bridges the gap in education between the high-income and low-income demographics.
How You Can Help
Supporting education initiatives like ours can significantly impact the lives of slum children. If you make a donation here, it will provide free education to slum children. It will help fund schools, provide learning materials, and work towards giving every child the opportunity to learn and grow.
Addressing the barriers the slum children face can lead to a more educated, empowered, and equitable society. Together, we can create a brighter future for these children and our society as a whole.