As one way of safeguarding children’s rights through raising awareness on policies that govern their welfare, the Women’s Legal Resource Centre (WOLREC), on Wednesday conducted a training session for teachers and headteachers on children’s rights.
The training, held at Katelera Teacher’s Development Centre in Salima, aimed at equipping teachers with knowledge on laws and practices that protect children from abuse and discrimination.
Speaking during the training, that was financially supported by Save the Children, Primary Education Advisor for Mgwirizano Zone, Harry Nyadira, emphasized the importance of empowering teachers with the right information to help them safeguard children’s welfare.
“This training has changed our perception of how learners must be treated. Both boys and girls deserve to be protected and treated equally. Previously, the focus was mainly on girl learners,” Nyadira said.
He expressed hope that the trained teachers would cascade the knowledge to their peers in various schools to broaden the impact.
Nyadira also commended WOLREC for its continued efforts in combating child injustices.
“WOLREC is playing a big role in equipping us with the necessary information and skills to improve children’s rights. We are grateful for their support,” he added.
Echoing similar sentiments, Primary Education Advisor for Katelera Zone, Happiness Sambala, praised the role of community structures such as Teacher-Parent Committees in promoting child protection.
“Strengthening collaboration will go a long way in curbing some of the challenges we have been facing in the district in fighting child abuse in schools,” she said.
Sambala also appealed for sustained support through the provision of incentives and motivation to teachers to ensure that what they have learned is implemented and maintained.
In his remarks, Salima District Social Welfare Officer, Edgar Kasiyafumbi applauded the initiative, noting that protecting children’s rights requires a multi-sectoral approach.
He emphasized that training teachers is a critical step in ensuring that schools become safe spaces for all learners.
“Teachers spend most of their time with children and are the first line of defense when it comes to detecting signs of abuse. When they are well-informed, they can act early and refer cases to relevant authorities,” Kasiyafumbi said.
He also encouraged schools to establish functional child protection committees to monitor, report, and address violations of children’s rights.
“Every school should have a structure that not only responds to cases but also educates learners about their rights and responsibilities,” he added.
Kasiyafumbi urged development partners and stakeholders to prioritize continuous child protection programs in schools, stressing that safeguarding children is a shared responsibility that must be sustained beyond donor funding.
