Underprivileged childrens education
It is clear
as the daylight that quality education eludes the children belonging to the underprivileged classes
Speakers at a discussion in Rajshahi recently rightly called upon all concerned government and non-government organisations to come forward and work together for flourishing latent talents of students coming from distressed and underprivileged communities. According to a report in this newspaper on Wednesday, they viewed ensuring educational rights to the disadvantaged children are very vital to attain hundred percent literacy targets.
Education is one of the basic human rights as enshrined in Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But how many people enjoy this right in the country? The overall scenario in the educational arena in the country does not show that much lustre. When the government has taken various measures for promoting education in the country, including female education, the school dropout problem is a matter of grave concern. It is clear as the daylight that quality education eludes the children belonging to underprivileged classes.
Scores of schools in rural areas lack infrastructural facilities and competent teachers, hampering education. People from urban areas as well as from remote rural areas should enjoy the equal facility of education. There should not be any discrimination in matters of receiving quality education. The way IT sector is developing in the country, the persons versed in this sector will contribute immensely to the economic growth of the country. There are signs that the future education may be merit-or-intellect-driven. Keeping it in view, ground should be prepared for achieving that goal.
The present government has announced a number of incentives, including midday meal and some financial incentives, to lure students to come to schools. More such measures are the demand of the day.
The quality education should not be confined to a section of elite class rather it will have to be disseminated to the larger section of the people. The poor students should also have access to technical education equally. If it is done, they will acquire the skills to compete in the job market. It will not augur well to keep the children of underprivileged class out of the development process. They should be allowed to play their roles in steering the country ahead.
Students dropouts from primary and secondary schools cannot be prevented without collective efforts of all concerned, especially teachers, guardians and community people. Protecting the legitimate rights of the children alongside freeing them from all sorts of violation, repression and deprivation has become indispensable for building a healthy and knowledge-based society in the days ahead. Physical and mental development of children is not possible if they are not protected from violence and deprivation since their childhood.
