By Jones Gadama
Young parliamentarians in Ntchisi have expressed disappointment and frustration over the failure of authorities to address the challenges they raised during a child parliamentary session last year in the district.
The young lawmakers, who are passionate about promoting child rights and welfare, had highlighted several issues affecting children in the district, including the shortage of special needs teachers, learning materials, and disability-friendly infrastructure.
According to Holiness Kalimbira, the speaker of the young parliamentarians, the lack of special needs teachers and disability-friendly infrastructure is a major obstacle to children with disabilities accessing education in both primary and secondary schools.
“We raised these issues last year, but unfortunately, nothing has been done to address them,” Kalimbira said during a review meeting organised by the Ntchisi Youth Organisation for Youth and Development (NOYD) in conjunction with World Vision International.
Kalimbira’s concerns were echoed by other young parliamentarians, who expressed frustration over the lack of progress in addressing child rights issues in the district.
“As young parliamentarians, we are committed to promoting child rights and welfare, but we need the support of authorities to make a meaningful impact,” Kalimbira said.
NOYD Project Officer Grecian Stambuli, who organised the review meeting, hopes that the authorities will move with speed to address the concerns raised by the children.
“We are committed to working with the authorities to ensure that child rights issues are addressed in a timely and effective manner,” Stambuli said, adding that, “We urge the authorities to take concrete actions to address the concerns raised by the young parliamentarians.”
Meanwhile, Senior Primary Education Advisor (PEA) in the district, Annie Chazama, acknowledged the challenges facing children with disabilities in accessing education.
“We are working tirelessly with the Ministry of Education to address the problem,” Chazama said, adding that, “Statistics show that the district only has four special needs teachers, which is a major challenge in providing quality education to children with disabilities.”
Chazama’s comments highlight the need for increased investment in special needs education in Ntchisi.
The district’s education sector requires more special needs teachers, learning materials, and disability-friendly infrastructure to ensure that children with disabilities have equal access to education.
The review meeting provided an opportunity for the young parliamentarians to engage with authorities and other stakeholders on child rights issues in the district.
The meeting also highlighted the importance of collaboration and partnership in promoting child welfare and rights.
As the authorities work to address the concerns raised by the young parliamentarians, it is essential to prioritise the needs of children with disabilities.
This includes increasing the number of special needs teachers, providing disability-friendly infrastructure, and ensuring that learning materials are accessible to all children.
The young parliamentarians’ efforts to promote child rights and welfare are commendable, and their persistence in pushing for action is crucial in bringing about change.
By working together, we can ensure that children in Ntchisi have access to quality education and opportunities to reach their full potential.
The failure of authorities to address child rights issues in Ntchisi is a concern that needs to be addressed urgently.
The young parliamentarians’ efforts to promote child welfare and rights are crucial, and their concerns should be taken seriously by the authorities.
By working together, we can ensure that children in Ntchisi have access to quality education and opportunities to reach their full potential.
