Basic concepts in disadvantaged childen

Basic concepts Related to the issue

1. Session 1 Basic Concepts 11/14/2021 1

2. What is childhood? The lay person’s definition of childhood refers to “the actual state of being a child.” A child on the other hand refers to “the young of the human species.” 11/14/2021 2

3. A more technical definition of childhood is that it refers to “the state and condition of a child’s life: to the quality of those years” (UNICEF, 2005, p. 1). This definition represents the global consensus on the terms of childhood. 11/14/2021 3

4. It has been accepted by the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and adopted by the UN Assembly in 1989. Although there is no absolute agreement on the interpretation of each and every provision of the Convention, there is substantial common ground on what the standards of childhood should be. 11/14/2021 4

5. The CRC addresses 4 basic rights of the child: Survival rights Development rights Protection rights The right not to be discriminated against 11/14/2021 5

6. What is child vulnerability? Child vulnerability refers to circumstances or conditions in children’s lives that make children prone to psychological, physical, social or emotional harm. For example orphaned children, those living in severe poverty and children who live in violent homes are susceptible to various types of abuse e.g. trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. 11/14/2021 6

7. The major circumstances or conditions that make children vulnerable to various forms of abuse are: Poverty HIV/AIDS Conflicts What are the major circumstances that make children vulnerable to various forms of abuse? 11/14/2021 7

8. What is child maltreatment? This is defined as abuse or neglect of the child. Child abuse includes all actions done towards the child that violate rights of the child. It involves using of the child in ways that go against the agreed upon international standards. Child neglect refers to behaviors or actions that deny a child the care needed for optimal development. Extreme neglect results in child abandonment . 11/14/2021 8

9. What is deprivation? Deprivation refers to a state where a child lives in impoverished rearing environment. One major cause of deprivation is poverty. Poverty deprives children of the rights to: Survival Health and nutrition Education 11/14/2021 9

10. Protection Participation The World Bank (2001, p. 25) notes that “poverty-related deprivation contributes to low education attainment in Africa. Poor children spend more time than other children contributing directly or indirectly to the household income” 11/14/2021 10

11. What is disadvantage? Psychologically, disadvantage means “a relatively enduring condition that results in lower academic achievement at school and reduced opportunities in the wider society” (Smith et al., 1998, p. 481). 11/14/2021 11

12. A disadvantaged child is one who “because of social or cultural characteristics, for example social class, race, ethnic origin, poverty, sex, geographical location, etc. comes into the school system with knowledge, skills and attitudes which impede learning” ( Passow , 1970, p. 16). 11/14/2021 12

13. Wedge and Essen (1982, p. 11) define the disadvantaged as “that group of children that failed to thrive, who failed to mature as much or as quickly physically, or who have failed to achieve as well in school as other children.” Disadvantaged children have been a driving force for universal free education system and the corresponding philosophy of “equity of opportunity” which gained root in Britain and USA in the years following WWII. 11/14/2021 13

14. Studies have shown that investment in disadvantaged children has higher dividends than investment in children from affluent families (Heckman, 2006). Hence, investment in disadvantaged children has both social fairness/equity (rights argument) and economic justifications (investment argument) (Heckman, 2006). 11/14/2021 14

15. To what extent does the problem of disadvantaged children affect socio-economic development in Tanzania? 11/14/2021 15