Since I
have not received any responds from my emails I decided to do the alternative
assignment. I listened to several pod casts and tried to contact a few
people but I did not receive any real replies. I received invitations to
join mailing lists. So I decided to review the CHIP website that deals
with the issues of children and poverty. I did research on the children
in Mongolia. I learned that these children have several obstacles that have
a great influence on the effects of poverty within their lives. However,
the focus of this publication was on the effects of migration. The
children and their families migrate to other areas because they are looking for
work, trying to find better education and for health reasons. Many
children are forced to discontinue their education in order to help support the
family. Many of the men are skilled herders and this tradition is passed
down to the children, mainly sons, to help their families sell livestock.
Other reason why education is limited is based on the family inability
to pay for the room and board of the child with another family. Also the fact
that many children feel isolated and mistreated by teachers that are
disrespectful and insensitive towards them because they are migrants. Many
families were not able to pay the school administration fee. So the child had
to leave school because the fee was not paid and the families received less
money from the state. This in return puts a financial strain on the family and
caused the child to drop out of school.
It seems to me that on the state
level there should be funds allocated to support children from migration
families. Funds that can be used to offset the price of education.
Funds that can be used to cut down on migrations that would allow
families to stay together. More programs that focus on basic skills training as
well as promoting higher education levels. Teachers should be trained and
sensitive to the needs of their students.
