Going to school from a relocated urban community: struggling for education within imposed walls

Abstract

During the past few decades, relocation of shanty communities has become a developmental concern across the developing countries. After 30 years of internal conflict, Sri Lanka is currently undergoing rapid infrastructural changes particularly in Colombo. Relocating several shanty communities has been an inevitable consequence. ‘Free education’ policy of Sri Lanka advocates education free of charge for students in all government schools and universities. However, low-income communities face several problems in making the best out of this policy. Relocated children face similar and additional problems as a result of being ‘relocated’. The study which is part of a larger longitudinal study explores these issues based on information gathered through in-depth interviews from 17 relocated households (supplemented with survey data from the longitudinal study). Several problems that negatively affect children’s education were identified. This raises the question of whether relocated children’s ability to make the best out of free education have really improved as a result of receiving more ‘permanent’ housing from the Government. A ‘permanent’ house is undoubtedly a promising initiative towards improving socio-educational opportunities available for these children. However, the study stresses the need for other forms of intervention to support these children gain full advantage of these houses.

Keywords:

• development induced displacement
• relocated communities
• education of low-income children
• socialization of low-income children
• discrimination in schools

Notes

1. Maintenance cost of Rs. 40,000 will be charged from all beneficiaries and that amount will be deposited in a committee account. As per the Apartment Ownership Act No. 39 of 2003, Sri Lanka, the maintenance and management of housing schemes and condominiums is a responsibility of the Management Corporation (MC). Members of the MC are the owners of the housing scheme and they have to bear the monthly maintenance cost. The monthly payment plus interest depends on the additional square feet area they consume in the new block (Fernando, 2007, pp. 9–10).

2. Fictitious name.

3. These schools will be called National school (NS/NSs) hereafter. A NS has 2000 or more students, A/L science classes with a total of 200 or more students, percentage of students eligible to enter university at the A/L examination of the preceding three years is 331/3% or above per year, availability of sufficient buildings and furniture for all students, availability of sufficient facilities for technical subjects, availability of sufficient laboratory facilities for all students in A/L and O/L classes, annual income from Facilities and Services Fees to be over Rs. 15,000, acceptance of the school by the community as one of the best schools in the area, the school should be supported by a strong School Development Society and an active Past Pupils’ Association (Ministry of Education and Higher Education, 1998).

4. Fictitious personal names have been used.

5. United National Party. According to David, he has been ‘politically victimized’ because he was a UNP trade union activist. He has lost his job at the Ministry of Transportation in 2004. He has been sacked on the grounds of medical reasons as he suffers from a difficulty of walking. Therefore, he thinks that his political beliefs have disadvantaged their children in finding suitable schools even when they met the residence criteria.

6. A/L hereafter.

7. O/L hereafter.