EDUCATION IN SLUMS-CHALLENGES AND ISSUES

Abstract: Slums are overcrowded, densely packed residential areas in cities that lack basic amenities of life. Education is one of the most serious issues in slums as the literacy rate is extremely low. As a part of the NGO Sodari Niveditha Prathisthana, I participated in education awareness programs carried out in the Uttarahalli slum in Bengaluru since 2017. From my observation, children living in these areas usually do not attend school because of financial issues. Most children who attend government school discontinue after a few years as they have siblings to take care of since their parents need to work, and the drop rate increasingly high. The importance of education has been explained repeatedly and stories of great men and women who became successful in spite of their struggles were given as examples. Topics such as the importance of hygiene, nutrition and sanitation, their duties towards society and the nation have been brought up and discussed to push the children to make an effort towards building a healthy society. Parents were advised to admit their wards to schools through door-to-door campaigns. It was observed that many children have habits like smoking, chewing of tobacco and gambling. The ill effects of smoking, tobacco chewing and alcoholism were explained in these awareness programs. Many classes were held on topics in basic science, mathematics, English, Hindi and environmental science. Children were enthusiastic and eager to learn from us apart from school, as our coaching would help them to understand complex concepts easily. For the development of these areas, educational institutions could extend their activities such as street dramas and disease awareness programs. Slum development boards must implement the schemes of the government for the welfare of slums.