Issues Related non school going children and dropouts in Sri Lanka (Year 2004)
The following issues were revealed after a comprehensive desk review of available researches, studies and reports in the Year 2004 during the internal conflicting situation in Sri Lanka.
High degree of vulnerability due to war situation (specially in directly war affected areas)
Internally displaced children and children have no access to continuous education
Compulsory education regulations ( derived in 1997) are not enforced
No community motivation or support for enrollment and maintaining attendance in schools
Parents can not afford the cost of school material such as shoes, uniforms, stationary and books
Lack of financial strength and low income levels of families
Not involving private sector and well wishes in solving educational issue
Children engaged in home base economic activities to support family income
Increased poverty levels of rural communities (poorest of poor)
Prevailing gaps between compulsory education policy and practice
Prevailing gaps in education reformation policies
Gaps in the mechanism of information gathering from grassroots level and disseminating in provincial and national levels
Poor quality enforcement government legislation on “Education For All” as a countrywide solution
Poor facilities in schools and consequent failure at school held examinations
Non availability of children awareness creation programs for bringing peer dropouts back to school
Non availability of suitable multi-grade education program for already dropped out children
No child friendly systems in schools, lack of teaching material and the knowledge
Teacher focus on fast learners
Non availability of free of charge evening or extra classes to support slow learners
No consistency in policy implementations in favor of children with special needs
Non availability of special education units throughout the island (poor Inclusive Education in mainstream education)
No child focus teaching and learning systems in classes
Unethical learning practices
Starvation during school hours
Psychosocial issues of children
Bullying in classrooms
Child labor
Looking after siblings
Cultural practices
Non participation of children for resolving access and retention issues
Non availability of media program to sensitize parents, officials and community to ensure all children have the right to universal and equal access to education
No awareness on special education needs of children among parents & community
No care for children of migrating mothers
Alcoholism of parents
Poor parent participation in education activities (rural context)
Poor Community participation in schools
Lack of public awareness on consequences of school dropouts and absenteeism,
Lack of knowledge of teachers on modern teaching pedagogues
Lack of a systems for rewarding teachers/principals who promote innovative initiatives & methods to maintain retention and eradicate absenteeism
Lack of knowledge of teachers on interactive teaching pedagogues and new student centered learning methodology
Teacher’s wrong attitudes and lack of empathy
Harsh punishment despite “Prohibition of Corporal Punishment”
Non availability of children counseling systems in primary or secondary teacher cadres
Non availability of student tracking system in primary schools
No teacher focused options for slow learners
Non availability of reliable statistics of already dropped outs and non school going children
Non availability of properly scheduled health and Nutrition programs in schools
Non availability of Management Information Systems on student education profile
Malnutrition and Health issues of pupils
Poor monitoring and supervision of school activities