The educational status of street children in Lebanon : policy and practice.

Abstract

This study explored the educational status of street children in Lebanon from the perspective of law, ministries, non-governmental organizations and street study participants. The study had a two-fold purpose: (a) to identify the causal factors for school dropout of street children and (b) to explore the legislative and practical initiatives taken by the ministries and NGOs to respond to the educational need of street children. The study adopted a qualitative methodology design which employed the grounded theory methodology. The researcher collected data through a documentary review for the existing laws and policies concerning the education of street children in Lebanon, and through in-depth interviews with six representatives from the ministries, four representatives from non-governmental organizations and eight street study participants. Data were analyzed and coded using the constant comparative approach where the researcher began the analysis with the data collected and compared the properties of concepts and categories continuously among the emerging data sets to generate themes. The researcher compiled eight profiles of street study participants and then highlighted the dropout factors, policies, and practices from the eighteen participants. The findings of the study revealed: (a) failure in defining and identifying the size of the population of street children, (b) a robust legal framework which governs the education and protection of street children on the Lebanese lands if well implemented, (c) similarities of the perspectives of the participants on the causal factors for school dropouts, (d) significant measures taken in Lebanon that, however, render shortage due to the colossal magnitude of children on the Lebanese streets; (e) conflict of roles and duties of organizations and (f) education as a potentially main protective and rehabilitative factor. Accordingly, the researcher suggested recommendations for policy and practice.