Children leave as Sri Lankan schools lack facilities

(Aug.26,2010) In Sri Lanka, the number of children who leave school after primary studies is very high, especially in areas where there are plantations. According to a research by Transparency International Sri Lanka, TISL, the number of students who leave school each year in the areas of plantations, is between 10% and 25% of all pupils. According to the report, only 7% of students who pass primary level exams continue in school.
The survey was carried out in the Badulla district, south-east of Sri Lanka, where there are 21 schools and over 300 students. Some common causes for the school drop outs, is due to lack of transport facilities; unsafe school buildings; the poor condition of classrooms and the lack of desks, chairs, blackboards and study materials such as textbooks, pens and pencils. Some schools even lack water.
Another major reason for abandoning school is the lack of parental support . In many families, the mother goes to work abroad in domestic service. Many social ills such as alcoholism, low self-value and low awareness of rights, befall those households, where the mothers go abroad for work.