Adolescence
Despite some progress with primary school enrolment levels, about 2 million Indonesian children do not attend school, of which 15% are children aged 7 to 15 years. An estimated 1 million children drop out of school each year. Keeping children in school during their adolescent years is essential on a number of fronts. Being out of school increases a child’s risk of becoming a victim of exploitation, including trafficking, and of run-ins with the law, ranging from drug abuse to petty crime. Increasingly, HIV/AIDS is also a threat to this vulnerable age group. Social and cultural conditions in Indonesia contribute to a higher exposure rate to these risks amongst female adolescents. Life skills education, vocational training, peer education and child participation are therefore all important ingredients in the effort to safeguard the day-to-day welfare and future of adolescents in Indonesia. Youth belong in families, schools and communities. Over the past few years, the Indonesian government has demonstrated a commitment to ensuring that children stay within those frameworks.
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