Submitted by crinadmin on
Summary: In recent years research, as well as
the results of practical programmes,
has lead to a clearer understanding of
the relationship between child work and
education. relationship between child work and education. It is increasingly
evident that child work is not entirely the result of economic need
or exploitation. Frequently it is the failure of the educational
system to offer adequate, stimulating and affordable schooling that
encourages children to drop out in favour of work that appears to
offer advantages more relevant to their everyday lives. Parents too
may undervalue the role and purpose of schooling and see a job,
including home-based work, as more valuable and certainly a more
positive alternative to crime, delinquency or begging.
Consequently, while a distinction needs to be made between 'formative
child work' and 'harmful child work', in certain situations and
cultures the phenomenon is not always seen as negative. Yet, although
work is gratifying in the short term and sometimes even enables a
child to attend school as well as learn discipline and
responsibility, often the jobs carried out provide no useful
experience and do not lead to an improvement in the life chances of
the child. The situation is therefore complex and requires a more
realistic evaluation of the relationship between archaic pedagogy,
drop out rates and child work.
These five case studies from Latin America (Brazil, Colombia,
Ecuador, Guatemala and Peru) all reveal the effects of inappropriate
school curricula. Desertion of the educational system for the labour
market leads to inadequate training and perpetuates the poverty trap.
As part of the commitment to combating work which is detrimental to
the child, major educational reform is needed. Improvements in
coverage, quality and affordability should lead to greater acceptance
of schooling at all levels of society and provide a greater incentive
for parents and children alike to participate more fully in the
system. Moreover, in cases of severe economic hardship and forced or
harmful labour, practical assistance with subsidies and scholarships
should be considered to remove children from such work.
Owner: UNICEF International Child Development Centre Maria Cristina Salazar, Walter Alarcon Glasinovich