Education program launched to combat child labor in RI<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of National Education and the
\nInternational Labor Organization (ILO) launched a program on
\nFriday titled \"Integrated Approach of Non-Formal Education to
\nCombat Child Labor\" to provide 19.2 million children with
\nimproved basic education.<\/p>\n
The ministry data from 1994\/1995 to 1998\/1999 shows that at
\nleast 11.7 million of the country's children are not yet
\ncompletely provided with either formal or non-formal education,
\nwith many of them ending up in the work force as child labor.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, 7.5 million children within the school age are not
\nenrolled in school.<\/p>\n
\"Although not all of these children are working, ILO's
\nInternational Program on the Elimination of Child Labor (IPEC)
\nestimates around six million children, aged between seven and 15
\nyears old, participate in the labor market as child labor,\" ILO
\nofficer Patrick Quinn said on Friday.<\/p>\n
He said the objective of the project is to improve the quality
\nof the existing national non-formal education system, in order to
\nmake it more suited to the needs of the working children, and at
\nthe same time support the success of the government's nine-year
\ncompulsory education scheme.<\/p>\n
\"The child labor project, slated to start next year, will be
\nstructured with a Paket A program, which is equivalent to
\nelementary school, and a Paket B program which replicates junior
\nhigh school material,\" Director General for Non Formal Education,
\nYouth, and Sport Makmuri Muchlas told The Jakarta Post after the
\nsigning of the agreement.<\/p>\n
The program will first start in the three provinces of West
\nJava, East Java and South Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
For informal students who are already working the skills and
\ninformation training given will be relevant to the area of their
\nwork, Makmuri 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 provided education by correspondence.<\/p>\n
Statistical data in May 1998 revealed that at least 40 percent
\nof the country's 204,567,000 people are living below the poverty
\nline, Makmuri said.<\/p>\n
To date, the number of children in primary and junior
\nsecondary education, between seven and 15 years of age, is
\nestimated at around 39 million.<\/p>\n
According to the ministry data in 1998\/1999, the dropout rate
\nat elementary school is 3.01 percent, junior high school 4.89
\npercent and high school 3.44 percent. While the number of those
\nwho didn't continue their education to a higher level is as
\nfollows: elementary school 22.6 percent, junior high school 33.6
\npercent and high school 34.6 percent.<\/p>\n
\"While the number of dropouts aged between seven and 15 years
\nold -- that is those who didn't complete their elementary and\/or
\njunior high education -- is around 10 million,\" Makmuri said.<\/p>\n
He said these children had the right to receive proper basic
\neducation. At least in reading, writing and counting.<\/p>\n
\"We cannot stop them from entering the labor market,
\nespecially with the economic crisis and the fact that there will
\nalways be parties who are willing to employ them.<\/p>\n
\"Under such conditions, at least what they ought to have is a
\nbasic education,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has earlier ratified ILO Convention No. 138 on the
\nminimum age for admission to employment, which varies between 15
\nand 18 years of age depending on the type of work, and Convention
\nNo. 182 on the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the
\nElimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor.<\/p>\n
\"Child labor is a complex and difficult problem and we know
\nthat we won't be able to eliminate child labor in Indonesia
\neffectively by using education measures only.<\/p>\n
\"But hopefully this effort will make a significant
\ncontribution to the fate of those children,\" Quinn said. (edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/education-program-launched-to-combat-child-labor-in-ri-1447893297",
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