The Zomba District Council’s Social Welfare Officer, Christopher Ndaona, has called on parents to respect and uphold children’s rights, particularly the right to education.
Ndaona made the appeal in Senior Chief Chikowi’s area during commemorations of the International Day of the African Child, which was organized by the Zomba District Council under the theme “Planning and Budgeting for Children’s Rights: Progress since 2010.”
He stressed that every child is entitled to education and urged parents to plan and budget for their children’s schooling from nursery level onwards, to ensure lack of finances does not deny them access to education.
“Children also have the right to healthcare and proper nutrition,” Ndaona added, noting that this year’s theme reflects the country’s slow progress in improving education infrastructure, with some children still learning under trees and sitting on the ground due to a shortage of desks.
He warned that parents who neglect their children’s education or fail to seek medical treatment for them when sick should face legal action.
Senior Chief Chikowi, who was guest of honour, echoed the call by urging parents to ensure their children eat breakfast before going to school to improve classroom performance. She further warned parents against sending children to initiation camps during school terms, stressing that violators would be punished.
Also speaking at the event, Community Policing Coordinator at Zomba Police Station, Assistant Superintendent Naison Chibondo, urged parents to prioritize education over cultural ceremonies. He observed that some parents manage to buy clothes for initiation ceremonies while neglecting to pay school development fees, which he described as a violation of children’s right to education.
