School committees to educate children on preventing abuse

by Ananda KANNANGARA

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardane last week highlighted the importance of establishing school committees to educate children on minimising incidents of child abuse and protecting themselves from unwanted characters from their tender ages.

The Minister said such committees have already been established in several schools, especially after a series of child abuse cases was reported from various parts of the country over the past few months.

Minister Gunawardane told the Sunday Observer that his objective was to establish such committees in all 9,500 public schools in the country to create awareness among teachers and parents on the rights of students. The program will educate children on living in society without facing unnecessary problems while being safe from unwanted elements. He said the assistance of the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), headed by Chairperson, Anoma Dissanayake will be obtained to carry out the program.

The Minister said many children, especially those whose mothers have left the country for overseas jobs face immense hardships; a program of this nature will also benefit such children.

He said all children have the right to receive a school education and therefore it is the responsibility of everybody to inform either the Education Department or the NCPA about non-school going children who are employed as domestics in houses, hotels and restaurants.

Speaking further on the setting up of such Committees in Government schools, Minister Gunawardane said it will be an ideal platform for children to forward their problems and seek assistance.

He also focused attention on over 500 child abuse incidents reported from all parts of the country during 2011 and said stern action was taken against those responsible.

The opening of such child protection committees took place at Ananda Balika Vidyalaya, Kotte recently with the participation of parents and teachers. According to the Education Ministry, such committees will be set up even in private schools, considering it as a national need.