Education can be a way out of hardship for poor children. Unfortunately, the continued economic downturn has closed that opportunity for many youngsters

Suthon Sukphisit

October 12, 1999

Life for slum children is hard. The houses are cramped, dim and often smell bad. Some youngsters live in single parent homes, while others live with aged grandparents. The warmth of a stable family environment is often lacking.

Things so many of us take for granted-a slice of pizza or a hamburger-is beyond their reach and life's little luxuries such as a nice backpack to put school books in is not an option.

But even worse, many of these poor children won't continue their education after this year's final exam-due in two months.

Instead of higher education, many students from slum areas have to quit school for an uncertain future. No matter how important they might recognise education to be, their cash-strapped parents simply cannot afford it.

And the economic slump has made things worse.

Wasana Sanitmuenwai, who heads the sponsorship section of Duang Prateep Foundation, said from January to September this year, 245 students dropped out of schools under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. Of these:

- 103 moved away and could not be contacted;

- 45 did not have enough money;

- 47 had become involved in crime and skipped school;

- and 31 had their scholarships revoked.

Ms Wasana said: "The Duang Prateep Foundation does have some scholarships for poor children. We have campaigned for donations. The criteria for giving out scholarships is that the children are poor, orphans or live in a slum area."

The Klong Toey-based foundation has tried to encourage educational opportunities for slum children for more than 20 years.

To qualify children must have an address where the foundation staff can contact them and they must be well behaved.

And it doesn't take a lot to make a big difference. A donation of 1,500 baht will buy a child a place at kindergarten or prathom suksa for a whole year.

- 3,000 baht will buy a child a year of primary school education;

- 4,500 baht a year of high school;

- and 6,000 baht will pay for a year at vocational school or university.

- Also a 5,000 baht scholarship will give special occupational training for young people who are deaf.

Ms Wasana said the foundation has received enough money to give away more than 2,000 scholarships last year.

Ninety percent of those receiving a scholarship were children from the slums. Most attend public schools close to their homes.

Things may look good on the surface. But in truth there are still so many deserving children who have not been awarded a scholarship. There is simply not enough money to go round.

Generally the scholarship covers tuition fees. Parents still have to fork out for meals, transport, books, uniforms and other necessities.

Although BMA schools do have an allowance for lunch, uniforms and books for younger students, often they are insufficient. And older students have to find the money themselves.

The economic downturn hit these children hard.

Their parents-very often taxi drivers or street vendors-face the prospect of earning even less money in their low paying jobs. Some bridge the income gap by getting their kids out of schools and into the workforce.

Some young drop-outs-ironically the lucky ones-find themselves hawking garlands along Bangkok's busy roads.

The less fortunate ones may end up in the ya ba or amphetamine trade.

Ms Wasana said: "Some parents have borrowed heavily from loan sharks charging exorbitant interest rates. Unable to pay back the money they often have no option but to run away.

"The children disappeared with them. We sent our staff to track them down but often can't find them."

Ms Wasana said the foundation has tried its best to reach out to students with financial problems but sometimes money is not the only issue.

"There is another group of children whom we are worried about. Theirs is a high-risk group, consisting of very young children up to teenagers. There are about 300 of them. Most do not receive love and care from their family.

"They are confused and underprivileged. They lack everything children of their age deserve. They usually try to figure a way out of their problems themselves," she said.

Ms Wasana said the foundation had tried to organise mental rehabilitation activities. "We try to take them out to see the brighter side of the world. We try to befriend them. But we have very little money for these valuable activities," she said.

Dr Wiwat Khongkhakul, chairman of the executive board of the Duang Prateep Foundation, said: "We have to admit slum children are constrained by many factors when it comes to academic excellence.

"Often their parents are either uneducated or too busy earning their keep to tutor their children. Some slum children also come from broken families.

"The ways of teaching these students is often far from perfect. Schools sometimes end up pressurising the students. Often teachers are not patient enough. They give attention only to quick students. They do not give time to bring the slower students up to the same level," Dr Wiwat said.

Without the loving attention of teachers, many slum children who fall behind in class become lonely and isolated. They become bored with school and turn to their peers with similar problems. The cycle starts a downward spiral.

Soon, they are branded a "bad influence" and develop an extreme inferiority complex, often they find themselves in vocational schools and are considered second-class students.

Dr Wiwat said this build-up of negative emotions is often the basis of inter-school quarrels and violence.

To tackle the issue by sending youngsters into military training so they can taste hardship will not solve the problem, Dr Wiwat said.

"If we really want to tackle the problem, we must reform our educational system. We have to give these children a chance.We still have plenty of noble teachers. We should encourage them so they keep on doing a good job. Most of all, we have to change our educational goals.

"We have to stop grooming students to excel academically. We have to build a whole new generation of "good students"-those with a sense of social responsibility," he said.

Thai society is living with the bitter fruit of its failed educational system, he added. "We have produced a lot of professionals who may be capable, but might also be narrow-minded and selfish. That is because our school system failed to recognise the values that make us human."

Info for donations:

- Name of Organisation: Duang Prateep Foundation

- Contact Person: Wasana Sanitmuenwai

- Address: Sponsorship Section, 34, Lock 6, Art Narong Road, Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110.

- Phone: 249-3553, 249-4880, 249-8842 and 671-4045-8.

- Fax: 249-5254

- Bank Account Name: Duang Prateep

Foundation, Thai Farmers Bank, Klong Toey branch.

- Bank Account Number: 017-2-29080-9.

Or donations can also be made by sending a money order, payable to Duang Prateep Foundation.

- "We Care" who believe in giving. Apart from supporting these causes, you can also let us know about people who selflessly help others so we can highlight their efforts. Fax 'We Care' on 240-3668 or call 240-3700 ext 3208 or 3212. Email can be sent to: sanitsuda@bangkokpost.net.

For a comprehensive list of charities covered by Outlook's 'We Care' weekly series, see the Bangkok Post Web site at <http://www.bangkokpost.net/outlookwecare/>