Anambra state government has approved establishment of Child Rights Club in primary and post-primary schools across the state.
The Commissioner for Basic Education, Professor Kate Omenugha announced the approval when members of the Anambra state Child Rights Law Implementation Committee paid her a courtesy visit in her office in Awka.
Child Rights Club is a platform through which Child Rights Law Implementation Committee of Anambra state intends to use in promoting and protecting school children’s rights in the State.
Speaking during the visit, the Chairman of the committee, Mr Daniel Ezeanwu explained that intensified sensitization of school children, parents and teachers on the provision of the Anambra state Child Rights Law will help significantly in pursing the rights of school children, hence the decision of the group to create the club in schools across the State.
He observed that establishment of the Child Rights Clubs in primary and post-primary schools will go a long way in the reduction of sexual abuses and other forms of child abuse in the state, and called for the assistance of the Ministry of Basic Education in setting up the clubs in thirty primary schools and thirty secondary schools in sixty days under the first phase of the project.
Adding, ROLAC Consultant Child Protection Anambra state, Sir Emeka Ejide regretted that a lot of children are victims of the law in today’s society because of ignorance, and explained that the club will help in no small measure to enlighten the school children on the law, their rights and responsibilities, thereby preventing them from taking decisions or actions that would negatively affect their future.
In their various remarks, other members of the committee, the state Project Coordinator EU Rule of Law and Anti-corruption Programme, Mrs Josephine Onah and Director Child Department Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Mrs Nkechi Anazodo observed that for the vision of the group to come to fruition the state Ministry of Basic Education, Parents and Teachers must support them, noting that every child has right to qualitative education.
Responding, the state Commissioner for Basic Education, Professor Omenugha asked the Committee to first carry out sensitization campaign in churches, parks, roads, markets, and other public places on the need to get children off the streets during school hours, frowning at parents and guardians who send their children and wards to hawk during school hours.
She however appreciated the group on the plans to create the Child Rights Club in the schools and urged them to backup their plans with actions and as well device a means of sustaining the clubs in schools after creation.
Comments are closed for this post.