DISTRICT CONSULTATIONS REPORTS CHAPTER 2: EDUCATION Challenges ? Children without school uniforms or fees and who come late are not allowed to enter the school gate. This denies them their right to education. ? Teachers' strikes are hampering children's education. ? Children walk very long distances to school. “In boarding school children learn science and practical subjects whereas in day schools children learn subjects which do not have market in future when applying for jobs.” Recommendations ? A child has a right to education whether he/she is not wearing a school uniform. ? Science and practical subjects should be introduced in rural areas. ? The government must make it a law that every child goes to school at a subsidized fee up to grade 7 depending on location whether in a rural or urban area. ? The government should pay teachers reasonable salaries in order to avoid strikes. ? More schools, especially secondary schools, should be built in rural areas. CORPORAL PUNISHMENT Challenges ? Corporal punishment is no longer done at the level correction and is now an abuse. ? Teachers are beating children on buttocks and its degrading. Recommendations ? Corporal punishment must not be harmful to children. ? Beating school children is not the only solution, there should be an open door policy in schools where children would be able to share their problems with teachers. ? Corporal punishment should be made an offence in the constitution. CHILD ABUSE Challenges ? Adults are raping and forcing children to have sex with them especially those children with disabilities, who are very poor and who do not have parents. ? The practice of “chiramu” whereby the sister's husband plays with his wife's young sister often leads to sexual abuse and indecent assault. Recommendations ? The perpetrators of sexual abuse should be given harsh conditions in jail. ? Adults should be educated on the importance of children's rights so that they would stay away from harmful cultural practices such as 'chiramu.' CHILD LABOUR Challenges ? Sometimes orphans work in order to sustain themselves. ? Some children are child domestic workers and they are given peanuts. Recommendations ? The government through the DSS must be in a position of assisting the OVCs where ever necessary. ? Those who employ children as domestic workers must understand their situations and give them payments which are commensurate to their labour. CHILD PARTICIPATION IN THE CONSTITUTION MAKING PROCESS Children's consultations CONSOLIDATED REPORT 44