ADOLESCENTS AND RIGHT TO DEVELOPMENT A CASE STUDY FOR SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

Dr. Sandra Joseph

Abstract


A challenging action-research study titled, ‘Continuing Education for Disadvantaged Adolescents in Chennai City’, a community intervention project for adolescents residing in an urban fishing community was carried out between 2016-2018.

Identifying needs of disadvantaged adolescents is a complex interplay of socio-politico and cultural institutions and structures in a given location. Challenges confronting adolescents are hidden behind other urban social evil and have not been duly recognized as pertinent to their development. It is important to understand that the adolescent stage of life is crucial and that adolescents too have an equal right to live in dignity and in a proactive environment.

 The study explores social meanings and contexts of disadvantaged adolescents and their environments. It analyses the dilemmas of adolescents residing in an urban developing area along the shoreline of the Marina beach, Chennai. It depicts everyday experiences of out-of-school adolescents and its impact on their aspirations for a better life. Using qualitative research methods, the study uses life trajectories to collect data. The study finds that most of their lived experiences act as impediments to their personal growth and development. The study offers a model that enables the adolescents express their needs and identifies that alternative skills training is a possible answer to their current needs. It covers a gamut of needs, the main focus however being on education; training and capacity building that leads to holistic development. The research is intervention-based and hopes to serve as a guide of informed strategies and as a model for working towards creating meaningful ‘space’ for continuing education for adolescents.


Keywords


out-of-school adolescents, equitable access, disadvantaged adolescents, skills, livelihood skills, multi-stakeholder partnerships, continuing education

Full Text:

PDF

References


Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The Ecology of Human Development Experiments

by Nature and Design. Harvard University Press. Massachusetts.

D'Souza, Barnabe (2004). Understanding Adolescents at Risk. Mumbai: multitech

publishing co.

Erikson, Eric (1959). Identity and Life Cycle. New York. International University

Press.

Hollis, E.V., and Taylor., A. L. (1951). ‘Social Work Education in the United

States'. New York, Columbia University Press.

Evans, D. and Kearney, J. (1996). Working in Social Care A Systemic

Approach. Aldershot, Areana.

Goldstein, H., (1973). Social Work Practice: A Unitary Approach; Columbia;

SC. University of South Carolina Press. USA. Lerner, Richard M. (2002)

Concepts and Theories of Human Development. 3rd ed. Mahwah, NJ:

Erlbaum.

Middleman, R., & Goldberg, G., (1974). Social Service Delivery: A Structural

Approach to Social Work Practice; New York; Columbia University Press.

Milner, J., Myers, S. O'Byrne P. (2015). Assessment in Social Work. Palgrave,

London, N1 9XW.

Milner, J., O'Byrne P. (1998). Assessment in Social Work. Macmillan, London

Pincus, A. and Minahan, A. (1973). ‘Social Work Practice: Model and Method',

Peacock, Itasca, IL

Siporin, M., (1980). Ecological System Theory in Social Work; Journal of

Sociology and Social Welfare; Volume 7.

Whittaker S., J., and E. Tracy. (1997). ‘Person-in-Environment Practice'. The

Social Ecology of Interpersonal Helping'. New York: Aldine de Gruyter.

Web Resources

Stang, J., Story, M. In Guidelines for Adolescent Nutrition Services. Available

at: http://www.epi.umn.edu/let/pubs/img/adol_preface_materials.pdf.

Retrieved on 12 Jan 2017

UNESCO. Principal Regional Ofce for Asia and the Pacic. APPEAL training

materials for continuing education personnel (ATLP-CE) Vol. I - Continuing

education: new policies and directions. Bangkok, 1993. 108 p. (Asia-Pacic

Programme of Education for All)

https://www.unicef.org/ghana/REALLY_SIMPLE_STATS_-_Issue_4(1).pdf

Retrieved on 12 Jan 2017

“Adolescents in India: A desk review of existing evidence and behaviours,

programmes and policies." 2013. New Delhi: Population Council & UNICEF.

https://www.unicef.org/about/annualreport/les/India_COAR_2013.pdf

Retrieved on 12 Jan 2017

“School Dropout: Patterns, Causes, Changes and Policies.” Ricardo Sabates,

Kwame Akyeampong, Jo Westbrook and Frances Hunt 2010. “Paper

commissioned for the EFA Global Monitoring Report 2011, The hidden crisis:

Armed conict and education” http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/

/001907/190771e.pdf Retrieved on 15 May 2017

“Poor Quality Education Holding Back South Asia, World Bank says.” 2014.

Washington: The World Bank. http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/pressrelease/

/06/30/poor-quality-education-holding-back-south-asia

etrieved on 23 June 2017

National Policy on Education 2016. Report of the Committee for Evolution of

the New Education Policy. Ministry of Human Resource Development

http://nuepa.org/new/download/NEP2016/ReportNEP.pdf Retrieved on 16

April 2017

The New Education Policy Critique

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/new-education-policy-draftmisses-

out-on-critical-thinking-deeper-understanding Retrieved on 20 Aug,

Indian Education system, An Overview 2014, The British Council, India.

https://www.britishcouncil.in/sites/default/les/ indian_school_

education_system_an_overview_1.pdf Retrieved on 15 June 2017

History of Education in India

http://www.academia.edu/1747225/HISTORY_OF_EDUCATION_IN_INDIA

retrieved on 15 Aug 2017

‘A study on Adolescent Drug Abuse in India’ 2016. American International

Journal of Research in Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences.

http://iasir.net/AIJRHASSpapers/AIJRHASS16-244.pdf Retrieved on Dec 8

Causes of Student Absenteeism and School Dropouts

https://www.researchgate.net/prole/Seyma_Sahin4/ publication/

_Causes_of_Student_Absenteeism_and_School_Dropouts/links/5

a59dea3aca2727d6082a3eb/Causes-of-Student-Absenteeism-and-School-

Dropouts.pdf?origin=publication_detail Retrieved on Aug 9 2019

National Youth Policy, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports retrieved on 7 July2019

http://www.rgniyd.gov.in/sites/default/les/pdfs/scheme/nyp_2014.pdf

Planning Commission of India

http://planningcommission.nic.in/plans/planrel/veyr/welcome.html

retrieved on 17 July 2018

World Health Organization Young people’s health – a challenge for society

Report of a Study Group on Young People and Health for All by the Year 2000,

Technical Report Series, No 731. Geneva: World Health Organization; 1986.

http://whqlibdoc.who.int/trs/WHO_TRS_731.pdf retrieved on Aug 2017

https://www.unicef-irc.org/portfolios/general_comments/GC4_en.doc.html

retrived on Sept 2019

https://springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-40743-2_23 retrieved on Sept

https://www.unicef.org/adolescence/index_rights.html retrieved on Sept 2019


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.