DISTRICT CONSULTATIONS REPORTS 2.13 DISTRICT: PROVINCE: VENUE: DATE: PARTICIPANTS: CHAPTER 2: NKAYI DISTRICT MATEBELELAND NORTH PROVINCE NESIGWE SECONDARY SCHOOL 25 JUNE 2010 90 CHILDREN (50 GIRLS AND 4O BOYS) CHALLENGES AND RECOMMENDATIONS BIRTH REGISTRATION Challenges ? People are charged high fees at registration offices. ? Some parents do not proceed with the registration because of the bad treatment at the registration offices. Recommendations ? Obtaining a birth certificate should be easy. CHILD HEADED FAMILIES Challenges ? There are many children within child headed families. Recommendations ? The government should provide and improve the living conditions for child headed families. DISCRIMINATION Challenges ? Teachers discriminate against children who do not have schools fees or who do not pay incentives. ? Albinos, poor children and children with disabilities are often discriminated against and isolated by other children as well as being excluded from various activities that affect them. Recommendations ? Every child should be treated fairly and equally. ? Children should be free to approach teachers concerning their problems. HEALTH, WATER AND SANITATION Challenges ? There are no adequate health professionals in rural areas and sometimes they go on strike. ? People are charged high consultation fees before treatment. ? There is a shortage of clean and safe sources of water such as boreholes. Recommendations ? The government should pay doctors and nurses well so that they will not strike or go to other countries looking for greener pastures. ? The Government should ensure the provision of safe and clean sources of water in rural areas through, for example, drilling more boreholes. EDUCATION Challenges ? Children in rural areas are affected by long distances they walk to school. ? Children's education is affected by teachers' strikes. ? Some classrooms are very old and dilapidated. Some do not have windows. This affects children in winter and rainy seasons. ? Schools do not have science laboratories hence children are not doing science and practical subjects. ? Some children are failing to proceed with education because they do not have parents and school fees. ? Some children go home late because of hot sitting. These get home very late since schools are very far away. Recommendations ? The government should build more schools to avoid children walking long distances CHILD PARTICIPATION IN THE CONSTITUTION MAKING PROCESS Children's consultations CONSOLIDATED REPORT 33