Children deprived of right to education
One of the starkest inequalities in our society is the extremely different educational experiences that Children in poverty have, compared to children from more affluent backgrounds. The effect of living in poverty on children’s education is bleak.
Pupils from the most deprived areas account for higher levels of absence, lower levels of attainment and are more likely to leave school without qualifications. Thus, while the Federal education system caters well for the majority, it is failing to deliver for the poorest children in our society. Save the children believes that narrowing the widening gap in educational outcomes for children living in poverty and children from more affluent backgrounds should become a key priority of education policy in Pakistan.
Irshad Bhatti 11, and Sheron Massy 10, two little innocent children who are also deprived from education just like other gipsy children. They are friends living right adjacent to each others home. They sell shopping bags in weekly bazaar. Per bag is sold for Rs5 where they scarcely earn Rs100 a day.
Irshad’s nick name is ‘Raju’. He is the youngest among all. His father is a taxi driver. He owns that cab but has broken down due to which earning has become quite hard-hitting. His mother cooks food in several homes. He has got five brothers and 2 sisters. All his brothers work except of the eldest one who is studying in 8th grade.
Sheron who is known as ‘sharo’ among his tribe has 3 sisters and 2 brothers. His father is a laborer and his mother works as maid in homes.
They have got nothing else to do in their miserable life. They go to the bazar early in morning and play with their marbles and pebbles daily as they are rundown by all other toys around. Both of them have just studied till grade two in Junior Model School located in Rawalpindi. Since they have shifted to Islamabad they have stopped going to the school as they are unable to afford the fare of the local transports. Their fathers have promised them to admit them in the G-10 school.
Both Sheron and Irshad said, “We are fond of going to school for getting knowledge. But poverty is the only stumbling block in our way to education.”
Save the thought which wants every child to have access to a quality education and learning opportunities that support them to reach their ‘full potential’.