International Labour Organization (ILO)

Post-Primary Formal Education and Skill Training Programme for working Children Withdrawn from the Industrial Area of SITE, Karachi

Proposed Duration: April 2001- March 2003

Objectives:

• To provide formal secondary education and vocational training to the ex-working children (who have been receiving NFE equivalent to primary education) in order to open better employment prospects later in life.

Activities:

• Establish Child Labour Bureau at SITE to coordinate action programme activities and watch over the situation of child labour in and around SITE area;

• Consultation with the school authority to establish the required number of seats at the and enrollment of 100 ex-working children at the Public School;

• Assess the market demand for certain skills and identify the trades for the envisaged vocational training and also assess the existing skills and interest of these children and place them accordingly;

• Recruit instructors to provide skills training to the 100 ex-working children and organize standard skill training courses;

• Develop referral system for intake of children for post-primary education from the trade union bodies;

• Hold regular meetings with all stakeholders to develop understanding on various aspects of the action programme and seek practical support for its implementation;

• Introduce micro credit facilities to the families of these targeted children and assess income needs, market feasibility for small business and their existing capacities to start small business, and also provide basic training and assistance on running small business, savings, dealing with emergencies such as sickness, etc;

Remarks:

This action programme has been clearly defined to impart formal education and technical skills to ex-working boys because the public school that is providing education to these children is only for boys.