Street children are habitually depicted in a purely negative
manner, often described as indigent, penurious, and impecunious individuals who
roam the streets in search of a livelihood. Many street children are denied
basic human rights, including proper access to social and health services, the
need for education, and protection against exploitation. Their world is
demoralising, disheartening, disenchanting, and their future appears formidable
and arduous as they are frequently rejected, scorned and despised by society.
However, it's important to recognise that they are normal human beings who, due
to challenging circumstances, find themselves homeless. Identifying a singular
reason for their homelessness is complex. On the other hand, the majority of
educators firmly believe that fostering inclusive education is obligatory. This
review mainly focuses on analysing the strategies that can reform the lives of
Street Children. This paper does not cast aspersions but seeks to ascertain
whether some of these children can be rehabilitated through inclusive
education. Inclusion entails all children studying in the same classrooms and
being provided with learning opportunities to enhance their abilities. All the
information was obtained through current studies, methodical review, and
meta-analysis, supplemented by secondary sources from the internet spanning
from September 2023 to January 2024. This non-empirical research employed
careful investigation and analysis techniques, including text criticism,
critical examination of biographical studies, and narrative analysis. Street
children are often stigmatized, labelled, and discriminated against, which
severely hinders the rehabilitation process. Although inclusion is a lifelong
and challenging process, it is instructional and edifying, and it may
potentially rehabilitate street children. This research reveals that
rehabilitating street children is extremely complex and seemingly impossible.
Nevertheless, some children may desire a different lifestyle, offering hope and
optimism for rehabilitation efforts. Therefore, concrete, holistic, and
meaningful efforts must be made to properly confront homelessness, affording
these children ample care, protection, education, and opportunities for a better future. Government
institutions, stakeholders, non-governmental organisations, and all individuals
committed to the well-being of children should actively engage in meaningful
and consistent dialogue to promote collaborative, effective, and sustainable
support systems.
Author (s) Details
Gabriel Julien
Department of Educational Leadership and Management, Faculty
of Education, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Global Campus,
Trinidad and Tobago.
Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/nicass/v3/5367