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Keeping kids out of streets
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Posted on Feb 20 2001
Young children are still selling their wares on the streets of the Samoan capital Apia.
In the middle of town, four young girls were seen selling goods to passing shoppers. Asked why they weren’t at school, a shrug of the shoulders was all the response one of them made.
One piped up that we have to, no choice, that’s all.
By whom? Asked where their parents were, at home, one of them said.
Children hawking goods around Apia has been a subject of religious and political debate.
Director of Education Levaopolo Tupae Esera said the problem was a complex one.
“It is compulsory by law for these children to be in school, but there is a twist in the legislation. Once the child completes year 8 or turns 14, they leave school.”
Levaopolo said: We have two officers who regularly monitor truancy, a senior inspector and a regulation officer. Some of these kids found on the streets have finished primary school and its hard to keep track of whether the other young children from outer villages have completed Year 8 or not.
We have been around to schools twice in 1997 and 1998 meeting with village representatives emphasizing the need to assist in compulsory education.
But the Education Department did not have the resources to keep proper tabs on progress. We are looking at instituting a programme at how legislation can be amended to cover things like getting the police involved in monitoring truancy. (PINA)
