Street Education: Bridging the Learning Gap

It’s time we step up, support street education

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Street education is momentous for a country like Pakistan, where the majority is deprived of it

Tooba Abbasi

In the crowded streets of Karachi, a 10-year-old boy selling peanuts under the scorching sun dreams of going to school. His resilience is admirable, but at what cost? What happens when the only education he knows is the one on the streets?

Is his resilience the price of education? Street education needs him, but does he have the opportunity to embrace it?

Education is the basic right of every citizen, but unfortunately underprivileged children in Pakistan are deprived of it. Being a third-world country and a developing nation, we struggle to sustain, so the educational disparity is persistently rapid. This adversely affects the future of those who are already living a difficult life.

Understanding Street Education

Street education means semi-formal or informal learning for children living and working on the streets. Street schools provide education to those belonging to marginalized groups. They are a platform for learning, training, and equipping those children with basic and necessary life skills.

“Without education, children are sentenced to a life of poverty, ignorance, and despair.”

— Kofi Annan

By bringing education to them, street schools aim to provide life-changing skills to marginalized groups. In Pakistan, where millions of children remain out of school, street education serves as a crucial bridge between survival and opportunity.

The Need for Street Learning Initiatives

Why is it that Pakistan has not prioritized street education, despite the proven benefits in other developing nations?

Street education is crucial for these children because it allows them to explore opportunities beyond laboring. By acquiring education, they can break the generational chain of poverty and slavery. With a rampant growth in their population, 1.5 million (Pakistan Street Children—Human Appeal) sustaining in a country like Pakistan is a real challenge.

According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), Pakistan ranked 152nd out of 180 countries in terms of adult literacy rate (59%) and 164th out of 180 countries in terms of youth literacy rate (72%) in 2019.

As of 2023, Pakistan is grappling with a significant challenge concerning street children. Estimates indicate that between 1.5 million and 2.5 million children live and work on the streets across the country. This range reflects both official data and assessments from civil society organizations, highlighting the severity of the issue.

With youth being the major holder of the population graph, this emphasizes the dire need for better resources. This can be combated through formal encouragement of street schools throughout Pakistan, especially in densely populated areas.

Challenges Facing Street Education Programs

Despite its importance, street education in Pakistan faces several major challenges. Lack of consistent funding limits the reach and quality of programs. For many street children, earning a livelihood is necessary for their survival; attending educational sessions isn’t their priority when shelter isn’t promised.

Safety concerns, especially in urban areas, also hinder outreach efforts. A shortage of trained educators who can handle the unique psychological and social needs of street children. Cultural stigma and bureaucratic hurdles further slowdown efforts to integrate these children into formal education systems.

Read: From street to school: Helping children learn

This matter is worsened in rural areas where unstable utility resources such as erratic electricity supply, unsafe drinking water, and unhygienic living conditions escalate health problems impacting their learning. Government primary schools are few and far between, while there are no opportunities for higher education. Without access to quality education, these children have little chance to improve their future.

Without a coordinated national strategy, most street education initiatives remain small and scattered. Street education is the way to reform the educational graph of Pakistan.

Success Stories from Pakistan’s Streets

Amid the challenges, many success stories show the transformative power of street education.

Sameer Ahmed, along with teammates like Abdul Raziq, Aurangzeb Baba, and others, transitioned from being street children to representing Pakistan in the Street Child World Cup. Their participation highlighted the potential within street children when given opportunities and support. After participating in the Street Child World Cup, Sameer became a motivational speaker and works with youth programs in Karachi, inspiring others from similar backgrounds.
Mohammad Salman, once a 16-year-old living on the streets of Karachi, was discovered through a talent search by the Azad Foundation. He went on to represent Pakistan in the Street Child World Cup in Brazil, showcasing the transformative power of sports in changing lives.

Organizations like The Street Child Project and Azad Foundation have helped hundreds of street children learn basic literacy skills, complete formal education, and even secure stable jobs. In Karachi, mobile schools operating from buses have enabled children working at traffic signals to study during flexible hours.

A firefighter by profession, Master Ayub has been teaching underprivileged children in Islamabad’s sector F-6 since 1986. His dedication has earned him the Pride of Pakistan award. His school, now supported by the Crossadder Foundation, continues to provide free education to hundreds of children.

Some former street children have gone on to become social workers, teachers, and small business owners, proving that with the right support, change is possible. These stories highlight that education, even when delivered in unconventional ways, can break cycles of poverty and neglect.

The Way Forward

Street education is crucial for an educated nation where the majority population is youth. By enabling them, these children will contribute to the country’s economy. Such as, Pakistan is experiencing an entrepreneurial phase where organic talent is being recognized, and through nationwide systemic expansion of street schools, we may meet exceptional entrepreneurs from these institutes.

With an average of 50 children in a class, that’s how many street children you could be helping if the system expanded street schools by just a fraction of the number needed. Government assistance in street schools is necessary.

The literacy rate would rise, street crimes and specifically the involvement of street children in them will decline, and accordingly Pakistan shall undergo economic development. A Street School cultivates the way to a meaningful life. This socialization, accompanied by academic progress, builds their social and academic life.

Conclusion

Street education is fundamental for Pakistan’s literacy growth. Through such schools, educational opportunities are encouraged for the marginalized. Street education is momentous for a country like Pakistan, where the majority is deprived of it. By investing in their future today, we are investing in the nation’s future.

The time to act is now. If we don’t address this gap, millions of talented children will continue to live in a cycle of poverty and lost potential. It’s time we step up, support street education and provide these children their right to live because they are the architects of Pakistan.