Adamawa children advocate for gender responsive education sector, others @ 2024 children’s day
Adamawa children have advocated for the entrenchment of Gender Responsive Education Sector Planning and other critical reforms that will enhance their welfare as the world commemorates 2024 children’s day.
World Children’s Day is UNICEF’s global day of action for children, by children, marking the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child which is being infringed in many places across the globe.
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Pushing the advocacy before Adamawa State commissioner of women affairs Neido Geoffrey Kofulto, spokesman of the children, Steven Sabo who thanked governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri for the far reaching initiatives he undertook to empower children of the state, noted that like Oliver Twist, the children will still ask for more.
“On behalf of the Children of Adamawa State as we mark this year’s Children’s Day, I would like to present to you our recommendations as follows:
“We request you to use your humble office to push for the introduction of Gender Responsive Education Sector Planning where our Schools will get enough classrooms, water and toilet facilities for our water, sanitation and hygiene needs to enable students enrollment and retention including children with disabilities, free Education from Primary to Junior Secondary and also reduction in the School fees for Senior Secondary and Tertiary level to enable us attain our full potentials.
“We call on you to lead an advocacy for the introduction of School transport/Buses system in Cities and towns of the state. This can be done by the State government in conjunction with Local Government Councils.
“We also recommend for the re-introduction of Home grown feeding system to support children of the poor to attend schools without difficulties.
“There is a policy abolishing corporal punishment and bullying in schools across the State, we want you to use your good office to see to the full implementation of this policy in order to protect us from maltreatment.
“We need more Teachers in schools, more classrooms, more sporting facilities, more Libraries, more books and many more,” Sabo said.
The spokesman of the children who commended Fintiri for passing the child rights act into law added that the law will go a long way in addressing the plight of children.
“We wish to sincerely commend our able Fresh Air Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and his able team for accenting to the Child Rights Law in Adamawa State, this, has further demonstrated the commitment of the government in protecting our lives and enhancing our welfare.
“We urge the government to strengthen State monitoring Committee on the implementation of Child Rights Law to keep to the promise of the government in doing everything possible to protect us.
“Honorable Commissioner Ma, it will do more good if there is a support fund dedicated to render needed Medical and Litigation support to victims of Violence against Children in our dear State.
“The State government should please sign the GAVI Memorandum of Understanding, declare a policy of free Medical Services for all children who are victims of Violence at home or anywhere.
“Honorable Commissioner Ma, haven readout our submissions, we are also pleased to let you know that we will play our part to safeguard the facilities if provided to our schools in other to ensure it last as a strategy to sustain the Gender Responsive policy aimed at increasing school enrollment and retention to addressing the high rate of Out of School Children problem in Adamawa State,” he added.
Responding, the commissioner of women affairs pledged to table the concerns of the children before the governor adding as a child friendly governor, she is optimistic Fintiri will respond positively.
The commissioner who was represented by the Director child development, Hassan Mohammed noted that so far the governor has taken far reaching steps to improve the lot of the children including provision of free education, passing the child rights law and many other positive initiatives for the good of the children.
Kofulto added that the ministry views any disregard for the children’s rights as unacceptable and punishable.
She noted that governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has directed the ministry to take data of all orphans and other vulnerable children across the state in order to effectively plan for them noting that recently, the ministry of budget and economic planning also engaged the children in a town hall meeting to get their input for consideration in the coming budget to ensure the implementation of children friendly budget in the state.
