EDUCATION FOR STREET CONNECTED CHILDREN

BRIDGING THE GAP AND OFFERING HOPE…………

Education is a basic human right that every child deserves, but sadly, many street children are deprived of this right. Living in a street situation makes it hard for these children to access basic education, which puts them at a disadvantage and perpetuates the cycle of poverty and exploitation.

In Nigeria, as in many other countries, there is a wide gap to be covered when it comes to education for street children. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) recognizes the importance of education in shaping the future of any society. The Global Support for Kids Initiative (GSK) is an organization that recognizes this need and has widened its scope to reach out to street children who are denied their right to education.

GSK fills the gap by providing basic education to street children, which improves their intellectual capacity, supports their moral development, and integrates them into societal norms. This helps them to survive off the street and build a foundation away from street life. The literacy classes offered to street-connected children and youth-at-risk cover the basics of education, including mathematics, English language, and moral education. This is because most of these children are not opportune to be educated.

Education for street children is a very effective way to support them, as it occurs at the locations where they live. Educating street children involves helping them to acquire knowledge, skills, and attitudes in specific areas of need. GSK’s education program for street children is flexible, serves to rehabilitate and provide adequately for their physical, psychological, and sociological needs. It also helps to develop the children into self-reliant, productive, and responsible citizens.

Education is recognized globally, not only as the foundation for lifelong learning and human development but also as an essential ingredient in the fight to reduce poverty and promote development in all aspects of life. It steers development in all spheres of life, and the benefits of education for street children cannot be overemphasized. Education gives street children an opportunity to escape the exploitation and poverty that trap them on the street, and it offers them hope for a better future.

In conclusion, education is a basic human right that every child deserves, including street children. GSK’s initiative to provide basic education to street children is a step in the right direction, and more efforts need to be made to bridge the gap in education for street children. Education offers hope and a way out of poverty and exploitation, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that every child has access to quality education, regardless of their social status.