Let’s hail the idea to allow children to work - EDITORIAL

The youth of this country are set to get a golden opportunity to try their hand at being employed; even if they are students.  According to a new ideology that’s being discussed at the ministry level the government believes it’s wise to allow children between the ages of 16-20 to find employment. The time of being engaged in a job, while pursuing an education, has been decided and is placed at 20 hours per month. 

Thinking of this proposal we come to know that the Ministry of Labour is working towards amending existing laws to allow children to find employment. This programme would immensely help less affluent families. There are families where children have to fall out of education because the father dies and the son has to become the breadwinner of the family. If a child is allowed to manage his studies along with some kind of employment that would give the child and the family some hope. 

There are other children-who are from affluent homes-who would like to get a taste of a work experience because that might give more value to the study of subjects like accounts, commerce and economics; taken up for A Levels. It’s good to get a feel of what the working environment is before you arrive there again as an individual with three A Level passes under your belt. 

This is a country where negative people find something bad in every good thing that’s proposed. We have seen enough examples of factories and hotels earmarked to come up in some villages being forced to a stop by the clergy and environmentalists; who are not pragmatic at all. 

We know that in other counties university students are allowed to work a couple of hours a week on the condition that more hours and commitment are shown at their classroom education. Money coming into the hands of children must be checked because individuals in this age group must not get too much too soon in their lives. 
We have to stop this talk of elders boasting and using the catch phrase, “during our time we never had the facilities you children had”. Never compare eras. If these elders were at their best in education and extra-curricular activities during their time that’s all that matters. Let these children who are in their youth live their lives to the fullest. Never compare eras. 

When schoolchildren or youth are given opportunities and not compared they see ‘bridges’ being formed with the elders who rule the country. Bridges must be formed, not destroyed. 
According to news appearing in the newspapers the subject minister for this idea Manusha Nanayakkara must be congratulated for pushing this idea and pursuing it. 

According to the authorities- who brought this idea up- the thinking behind the programme is that youth today lack the experience and the exposure needed to walk into a place of employment and be in a mind frame to start work.  A child who has had some work experience while completing his studies would be a better decision-maker and also would have contributed to the national economy. This is enough of an experience for any child to hold his or her head high and walk into society when the school education comes to an end; when reaching ones 19th birthday. 

There are of course some negatives associated with finding employment while being a schoolboy or girl. Money gives you independence and that would give buying power to children who don’t have the ability to decide for themselves. Others-people with questionable charactors-might in such situations decide what’s not very good for schoolchildren who find employment. 

Also students who are employed part-time might prefer to cut school if the life on offer at work places is interesting and rewarding. The authorities must think deep and see whether they’ve left any loopholes for children to exploit in this endeavour.