However, they bemoaned that much more remains to be done to ensure that every child's right to quality education is protected, promoted and fulfilled without discrimination. Aligned with the specific theme of the 2024 Regional World Children’s Day commemorations – 'Educate and Skill the African Child for Posterity' – their unified Call-for-Action drives progress in several crucial areas. This call for action is informed by extensive national consultations involving over 5,000 children across the seven countries, organised amongst their peers with the support of governments and civil society partners. They made a presentation to Heads of State amongst others Duma Boko in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe over the weekend.
“We, the children from Botswana, Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, call on our leaders to listen to our voices, include us in decisions that affect us, adopt and implement our solutions, and invest in our present and future,” they emphatically stated. The demands The children’s demands are clear and focused. They are calling on their governments to take concerted action on a number of issues. They demand that all children, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds, have access to quality education by providing financial support and addressing the specific needs of both girls and boys. The children want the curricula to be strengthened and enriched to include practical life skills that enhance daily living and learning, ensuring relevance and meeting the current demands of children. Equally, they demand that quality education needs to be innovative, promoting critical thinking and creativity, with appropriate learning materials and a supportive environment to facilitate practical skills development. They also want governments to consult with children to provide this.
