Cape Town – From calls to increase the National Senior Certificate pass mark by 20% to advocating for the appointment of a Children’s Ombudsperson – the debate of the Children’s Parliament has not been child’s play.
In fact, one could argue that their robust debates have the potential to give the main House of Parliament a run for its money.
About 108 teenagers descended upon the Mother City to attend the 4th Annual Nelson Mandela Children's Parliament at the Old National Assembly on Thursday.
Thomas Austin, a Member of the Children’s Parliament from the Western Cape, made a nervy start to his debate. As soon as he got into second gear, he raised the all-important issue of violence against children and women.
He said there was a need to bolster laws and regulations that dealt with protecting vulnerable children from being violated, so as to improve prosecution of perpetrators.
“We expect government and the community to join hands with children and women and stand together to help us push for the appointment of an ombudsperson for children who will serve as a voice for children.
“We don’t want our leaders to be violated and broken down before they fulfil their purpose as future leaders,” said Thomas.
Another child MP, Ntombizodwa Sithole, said like President Mandela did, children should value the importance of education as it lays the foundation for lifetime success.
“Education is a human right that will lead to economic growth,” she said.
She also called on government to improve access by building more schools in rural areas to bring them closer to learners and to ensure that learners do not walk more than five kilometres to school.
“Education to children in rural areas will lead to reducing poverty and inequality… It is a stepping stone.
“We also feel that the current pass rate of 30% is not enough, and we recommend that the pass rate should be raised back to 50%,” she said.
Honourable Omolemo Matlosa also called for education access to be improved, and called for mechanisms to monitor teachers’ training and to further protects children from being violated by their own teachers.
“No decision should be taken about children without consulting children because it is about our future,” he said.
Further calls were made for children with disabilities to be treated with respect and as valuable members of society.
Meanwhile, Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini commended the child Parliamentarians on their constructive debate at the Old Assembly.
She said their ideas would go a long way in taking forward the legacy of the late former statesman Nelson Mandela. – SAnews.gov.za
