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The third children’s parliament, which finished its business on Wednesday has deplored bad governance and corruption in the country, which the children said adversely affect the development and welfare of the children.
The 67-member parliament supported by United Nations Children Education Fund (Unicef), Action Aid, Save the Children Fund UK and Plan International also noted the lowering standards of education because of the introduction of free primary education.
On corruption, a motion moved by Mwanza West child MP Zione Mselera and seconded by Reuben Sangaya from Zomba Central, the children’s parliament noted that corruption continues to erode the country’s resources.
This, the said adversely affect the welfare of the children despite the welcomed decision of establishing the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB).
“This children’s parliament welcomes government policy of poverty reduction but deplores bad governance and corruption which adversely affect the development and welfare of the children by denying them resources,” the children note.
On quality education, an issue raised by Alinafe Kasiya from Kasiya sub-Boma and supported by Steven Minora from Mulanje Central, the children attributed the low standards of education to the employment of unqualified teachers, the unstable school calendar, poor school facilities and mushrooming of private schools.
“The children observed that most schools lack teaching and learning materials, and called upon government to increase funding to the education sector for the purchase of materials.
“(They) urged government to consider providing calendar for both government and private schools and deplored the frequent changes of school syllabi. (They also) called on government and other agencies to provide adequate classrooms by constructing more school blocks,” read the children in their resolutions.
In a separate interview, Director of information Robert Ngaiyaye said the children have the right to express themselves through the children’s parliament but quashed their allegations that there is bad governance and high corruption levels in the country, saying the matter has to be substantiated with facts.
“We are all crying to express ourselves and the children’s parliament is their way of expressing their views to government. But I will be uncomfortable to believe that there is bad governance and corruption in the country. They have to substantiate that with facts,” Ngaiyaye said.
Efforts to talk to Speaker Davis Katsonga proved futile because he was reported in a meeting in Blantyre. But his personal assistant Jane Hauya said parliament will produce a report from the resolutions from the children’s parliament which will be tabled in parliament in the next meeting of parliament for debate by the whole house.
But Hauya couldn’t be drawn to comment on the issues raised in the report on behalf of her boss, saying the Speaker did not sit during the children’s parliament and has not yet seen the resolutions because he left for Blantyre immediately after the opening.
Further on education, the children have also called on government to close down unregistered private schools and to provide adequate laboratory and library facilities.
The children also note the abuse of children rights and called on government and NGOs to sensitise the public on child rights and requested them to distribute leaf lets on the convention on the rights of a child.
The children also urged government to distribute free anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) to children suffering from Aids to prolong their lives but condemned the distribution of condoms in schools by certain organisations saying the practice should stop fourth with.
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