Study reveals low literacy level of children in slums

28 Sep, 2012

 

According to study launched by Children Complaint Office (CCO), 33.24 percent of total population in slums of Islamabad is illiterate, 37.39 percent had attended primary schools and 7.27percent secondary.

 

The report revealed that the child population living here is 39,338, out of which 10,739 (27.30) are involved in child labour.

 

Talking to APP, an official in CCO said low literacy rate is due to poverty, inadequate schools within the communities and difficulty in accessing other schools.

 

The Study found that the children in slums join the workforce at a young age and 39 percent child labourers are aged between 11-15 years, whereas 61 percent are in the age group 16-18 years.

 

According to data available, children of Katchi Abadis do not enjoy health care services and only 14.71 percent of this population has access to government health care services.

 

The survey revealed that 85,981 people comprising 7.73 percent of Islamabad's population live in 34 Katchi Abadis, scattered in the developed sectors of Islamabad.

 

Children in slums are living in squalor and filth and are living close to the open sewerage channels, which involves a high risk, both for the adults and for children.

 

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2012

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