Sri Lanka - Institut de statistique de l'Unesco

Out-of-School Children in Sri Lanka: Country Study
Some children had to contribute to the family income also.
Sudhir cleans houses in his village and picks coconut to earn to money. Sometimes he helps
to make bricks. During such times, he does not go to school and his education is disrupted.
He says it is his duty to look after his mother and sisters, and earn money so that his siblings
can go to school.
Rajan, a 13-year-old boy from Badulla, chops firewood to sell after school and during
holidays, so that he can contribute to his family’s income.
Domestic responsibilities such as attending to household chores and looking after younger
siblings or sick family members also led to irregular attendance. In some cases, these
responsibilities were taken on by children because their mother had migrated for employment or
their father was absent.
Priyan from Puttalam had to collect water and firewood for his home. When he had to do
these duties, he could not go to school. His father punished him, if they were not done.
As the eldest in the family, Mahindra, a 10-year-old boy from Puttalam, had to shoulder lot of
work at home. He had to look after his younger siblings and collect firewood and water. His
mother punishes him, if he fails to help.
Abitha, a nine-year-old girl from Ampara, has to help her mother with household chores. This
often prevents her from going to school.
Ashani, a 12-year-old girl from Neluwa, is responsible for doing all the housework when her
mother goes to Colombo to work. While her mother is away, Ashani and her younger brothers
do not go to school.
Tharani, a girl from Nuwara Eliya, had to do all the household work and could not go to school
when her father was detained by the police.
Eresha, a 13-year-old boy from Colombo, has a bedridden mother. As a result, he has to help
with the daily household work.
An inability to cope with studies was given by children as a reason for irregular attendance.
Psychological problems or learning disabilities might contribute to this.
Devi, a 13-year-old girl from Nuwara Eliya, said she was often absent from school because
she could not do her homework properly.
Eresha said that he was slow at school and could not complete his assignments. This made
him reluctant to go to school. He felt that he could not match the other children in class, as he
said he could not read or do sums.
Suresh, a 13-year-old boy from Hikkaduwa, said, “I am not good at the subjects in class. I can
read but I cannot write. Friends in the class do sums and other things. I just watch!”
Ravindri, a 13-year-old girl from Colombo, said, “School work is difficult. I cannot understand
maths. I only read and write with difficulty. I get low marks for all subjects.”
Uttham, a 13-year-old boy from Batticaloa, was not happy in school, as he could not
understand the lessons and gets low marks.
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