Teachers have been urged to respect children’s rights at home and in the community.
“The right of the child should come first above all, ” said Rose Obonyo, the Child Protection Officer at the Catholic Diocese of Kitale.
Obonyo said that the 2010 Constitution, Article 53, clearly specified the Rights of Children as the Right of Name and Nationality, Free and Compulsory Basic Education, Right to Healthcare, Right to Protection from abuse and any form of violence, Right from inhuman treatment, Right to parental care, right from child labour, Right to Basic Nutrition, and Right to Protection from harmful cultural practices.
Obonyo also emphasised that child defilement is a very serious offence, as harsh penalties are always given to the offender.
The one-day workshop took place at St. Mary’s Assumption Catholic Primary School, where two BOM members, teachers, and subordinate staff were present.
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Further, Rose Obonyo also said that with the ascentment into law of Children with disability by the president, much will be achieved in assisting the children.
Furthermore, the officer also said that the Education Act 2013 clearly stated that corporal punishment should not be used against learners; therefore, better ways of punishing children should be carried out.
Madam Delphine Wachiyeh, the Education Secretary at the Catholic Diocese of Kitale, said the teaching staff should always work as a team to benefit the learners.
Wachiyeh advised the teaching and subordinate staff, “Do not frustrate any learner at any time of your teaching career.”
The Education Secretary also lamented that few learners with special needs have been taken to Ngomyek school despite having enough facilities for many learners.
She asked teachers to be agents of change in sensitising the community about the importance of taking physically challenged children to special needs schools.
The Headteacher of St.Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Gilbert Situma, said his staff had gained a lot, and each would implement what was discussed.
The key contact teachers in the school included Levis Koech and Madam Still Waiya.
The program is popularly known in Kiswahili as”Watoto Watunzwe Programme”.
Teachers are in attendance. The other photo includes Delphine Wachiyeh in a red skirt, the Education Secretary, and Rose Obonyo next to her, both from the Catholic Diocese of Kitale. On the sides are representatives of BOM members.
By Marin Ruto
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