Children's migration to brick kilns in Nepal: a review of educational interventions and stakeholder responses to child labour

In Nepal, internal migration by the poorest families for employment, including to the brick kilns of the construction industry has been identified as a policy and research priority by the Government of Nepal. While support for children's education is considered vital to reduce risk to child labour Nepalese children's access to education is sporadic and incomplete when they travel with their families for seasonal work. This paper offers a review of recent research on educational interventions to support children of migrating families and examines the role and responses of government, non-governmental organisations and employers to mitigating the risks to engagement in, and reducing impacts of child labour in this hazardous industry. It shows that educational interventions focus on access to schooling and non-formal education, livelihood support and child safeguarding, but suggests these need to be concomitant with an agreed local strategy for holistic child and youth development that includes parents and children perspectives. This paper will provide insights into areas for coordinated action for children of migrant workers of brick kilns and pointers for future research on migration, child labour and education.