Stakeholders in education bemoan neglect of child safety issues

06-06-14    

Stakeholders in the education sector of the Talensi district have filed a petition to draw authorities’ attention to the gross neglect of school safety issues at the basic level of education by parents, teachers and regrettably duty bearers. The petition jointly filed by concerned groups including parents and community members raised issues that infringe on the rights of children to study in safe environment. It moreover underscored the need for duty bearers to rise up to the challenge of ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children in schools.  The presentation of the petition was done at the forecourt of the district assembly by Grace Kpelim-etme, a student from St Thomas Aquinas school. It was officially presented to the DCE, Edward Awunnore through the District Director of Education, Joaquim Farrah. The safety of learners the release stated was central to the provision of quality education in all schools. While this is essential for learners at all levels of education, it was particularly critical for learners at the basic education level in view of their ages. This is because children are vulnerable threats such as bullying, intimidation as well as verbal and physical assault among all manner of harassments. Apart from such abuses, insecurity for children can emanate from poor school infrastructure including inadequate toilets facilities. Therefore the safety of children at schools cannot be over-emphasised, hence the need to consider actions that may ensure their security to enable them stay in schools. The release proposed some solutions to ensure safe schools as a way of promoting the function of increased enrolment, retention and completion. It requested both the GES and the PTA to form and strengthen School Safety Sub-committees in collaboration with School Management Committees. It also implored them to allocate more resources to ensure that schools are safe in terms of infrastructure and environment to promote quality teaching and learning. It further proposed actions to ensure that learners are safe from any form of physical, emotional and sexual abuse and neglect. As a way forward, the release underlined the urgent need for authorities to create conducive environment for other stakeholders to be involved in a wide range of school activities. A route march characterized by the use of placards was earlier organized to deepen public awareness on the need to prioritize school safety issues. It was jointly organized by Rise –Ghana , an NGO and World Vision Talensi.

GBC                                                                     END                                                                     IA/