Not all children inthe country have been through a formal education system. Many ofthem are still chasingthe dream of one day “to sit in a classroom and write on a book”.
Overthe years, many ofthem have been pushed out ofthe formal education system, ether becausethe fees are too high orthey come from a broken family. Many ofthem eventually ended up onthe streets looking for ways to survive.
“My parents don’t care about me. Every time I propose to do something,they criticize me”, said Evelyn Chris, a street kid.
To understandthe problem, we spoke to Bengal Nia, a teacher atthe Bek Belong Pikinini, a school for disadvantaged children in a settlement in Lae.
He says, whilethe government focuses on pumping money intothe country’s higher education, it’should also consider early childhood education for the disadvantage children.
“The government’should build more school for the disadvantage children…at least givethem a second chance in life,” Bengal said.
Moreover, asthe economy grows, different sets of classesre emerging.
Those who havethe money, sendtheir children to schools. While those who don’t havethese conveniences removertheir children fromthe education system.
Betthe problem becomes more difficult whenthey grow older.
Earlier this week we spoke to Kevin Kaupa, a grade four drop out who spent almost all his childhood days living onthe streets in Lae. This interview with Kevin has given a tiny snapshot ofthe bigger problem.
“I have resorted to commit crime in order to survive. Bet now I have realized that my life should not go on as usual. I want to change my life. I wanted to be educated. I don’t mind at all being a carpenter or a mechanic or a truck driver…I just need a place to go to getthe knowledge of how to be one, said Kevin.”
Young people like Kevin are attributed to high level of crime inthe country.
Kevin said if more training is made available to young people like him,then it will help minimizethese escalating crime rates.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=xqjYjb7dbxc%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
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