Child Labour and the Right to Education in South Asia: Needs Versus Rights?

The twin issues of child labour and children’s rights to education have become a matter of international concern while gaining prominence in national developmental efforts. The United Nations convention on the rights of the child, which has a higher rate of ratification by the nations of the world than any other UN convention, signals a new global awareness of the importance of this problem. Within the South Asian context, the issue of child labour is widely seen as a manifestation of poverty, and the child’s contribution to the household economy is seen as vital to meeting the basic needs of poor families. This region has the largest number of child labourers in the world, as well as the largest number of children out of school. A number of different educational models for addressing the requirements of children who are outside the conventional schooling system, have also been evolved in this region. While highlighting these important issues, this thought-provoking volume discusses a range of pertinent questions including, What is the nature of the conflict between the right of the child to education and the economic needs of the family and which of these concerns should take priority? What is the role of the state in this ‘needs versus rights’ conflict? What roles are played social discrimination (on the basis of caste and gender) and cultural exclusion (tribal and religious status) in keeping children both out of school and out of work? What is the status of child labour in the context of globalisation and international trade agreements? What is the meaning and experience of childhood in the region, particularly among poorer families? With contributions from policy-makers, academics and activists working in the field of child labour, and practitioners involved in delivering education to children who are outside the formal schooling system, this valuable book brings together a range of perspectives concerning the causes of and solutions to the problem of child labour in South Asia. It will be of interest to development organisations, NGOs and human rights activists, as also to students of law, sociology, economics, public administration and development studies.