Slums education level still remains zero

by Afreeha Jawad

Economic deprivation and compelling needs in the home-front drive children into rapping up school life after just one or two years.

"Thus educational levels in slums remain zero", said Ayurvedic Dr. Irangani Hapugoda, Chief MoH Kolonnawa district, talking to the Sunday Observer recently.

Interestingly these children start off schooling with a big bang with parents taking great interest in seeing them off to school in the first two years. The first at school is in fact not without its customary celebration as in other clan groups.

"But", she added, "It's really very sad to see that this interest gradually loses colour as children take on adult roles having left school after a brief two year stint".

Those in the Manning Market, she informs are these school drop-outs - sent here by their mothers to earn some monies to scrape through the day. They finish work around 10 or 10.30 in the morning and return to the slums after clinching a deal. Looking all well spruced up what with expensive shirts, gold chains, wrist watches and carrying even mobile phones, they, for certain are cynosure to any girls' eyes.

"A few decide to settle down while rape is common occurrence - first another happening like a sneeze and a cough," she said laughingly. "Even settling down is no answer to these folk as poverty is the deciding factor to what they make of life," said Dr. Hapugoda regretfully.

Come sickness amid dry wallet, robbery is the only way out. They would steal some valuable and get back to their past time of drugs, alcohol, women and gambling.

Cashing in on this deprived state are politicians. The politico underworld tie up is public knowledge. These youth are used for election campaigns, murder and mayhem.

Poverty thus becomes a facilitating factor for the rich and powerful. Power itself is defunct devoid of poverty that breeds the underworld.

It's not that these children don't like to study. In fact they love to do so yet it is the corrupt environment and extreme deprivation at home that keeps them off education.

Regardless of sex, boys and girls take on adult roles so early in life depriving them of childhood. For girls are the restricted home confines to look after younger siblings while parents are at work which time is most opportune to be a prey to neighbours' and relatives' sexual wiles. Dr. Hapugoda emphasised the need for the socio-economic development of slums. "If not, the societal whole will face the brunt of evils emanating thereof," warned Dr. Hapugoda.