Campaign launched for the elimination of child labor<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of National Education and the
\nInternational Labor Organization (ILO) on Friday launched a
\nnational campaign for the elimination of child labor, which aims
\nto equip the country's 19.2 million school-age children with
\nimproved basic education.<\/p>\n
The program -- also supported by UNESCO, UNDP and Unicef -- is
\naimed at providing working children with adequate basic education
\nthrough alternative programs.<\/p>\n
"The child labor project, slated to start next year, will
\nconsist of the Paket A program, which is equivalent to elementary
\nschool, and the Paket B program which duplicates junior high
\nschool material," Minister of National Education Yahya Muhaimin
\nsaid after an event launching the project.<\/p>\n
Yahya also said that, due to the prolonged economic crisis,
\nimplementation of the nine-year compulsory education program,
\nwhich was scheduled to be completed by 2003, may not be
\naccomplished for another three or four years after that.<\/p>\n
Tool kits for Paket A and Paket B will be distributed to
\nchildren who join the program, which is expected to be conducted
\nin industrial areas where many child laborers work, such as in
\nthe Greater Jakarta area.<\/p>\n
"Under the program working children can participate in lessons
\nwithout leaving their jobs," Yahya said.<\/p>\n
The ministry's data from 1994\/1995 to 1998\/1999 shows that at
\nleast 11.7 million of the country's children have not yet
\ncompleted either formal or non-formal education, with many of
\nthem ending up in the work force as child laborers.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, 7.5 million children within the school age are not
\nenrolled in school.<\/p>\n
Child labor activist and a member of the National Commission
\non Children, Arist Merdeka Sirait, however, revealed that no less
\nthan 25,000 to 30,000 children are working in 8,200 factories in
\nthe Greater Jakarta area.<\/p>\n
"The hidden number is definitely far higher, as it is
\nestimated that there are around 6.5 million child laborers
\nnationwide, 2.3 million of whom are working on industrial sites,"
\nArist said.<\/p>\n
Arist called on the government not to just provide those
\nchildren with alternative education but also an official diploma
\nto recognize their qualifications and elevate their status for
\nthe future.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, chairman of the Indonesian Teachers Union (PGRI)
\nMohammad Surya said that PGRI have produced 4,000 information
\npackages for distribution throughout all regions to combat child
\nlabor and help educate the children.<\/p>\n
"There are 1,000 open junior high schools and around 2,000
\nelementary schools located in areas prone to child labor which
\nare ready to help them," he said.<\/p>\n
Formal education programs that have previously been used for
\nthese children have often provided junior high school studies in
\nsmall open-air sessions or by correspondence.<\/p>\n
Statistical data in May 1998 revealed that at least 40 percent
\nof the country's 204,567,000 people live below the poverty line.<\/p>\n
To date, the number of children enrolled in primary and junior
\nsecondary education, between seven and 15 years of age, is
\nestimated at around 39 million. (edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/campaign-launched-for-the-elimination-of-child-labor-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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