Study to address school-based violence in offing

By Stephen Ssenkaaba

IN a bid to address education based violence, The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development in partnership with the Uganda Child Rights NGO Network (UCRNN) and other child rights organisations are to undertake a nation-wide study to assess the nature of violence in schools. This was revealed by Stella Ayo-Odongo, UCRNN Executive director during the launch of the 4th Tumaini awards at the Media centre in Kampala.

The award is an annual recognition to individuals, businesses, Non-Government Organisations, community based organizations (CBOs) and the media that have made significant efforts to improve the lives of children in Uganda. The awards program is part of a larger initiative to advocate for children’s rights and generate awareness of their rights through a media and advocacy campaign. This year’s theme is: “Providing a child friendly, quality, free and compulsory education to every child in Uganda.” It is in line with that of the African Union’s Day of the African Child.

Seven “child-focused” organizations are working in partnership to support this year’s awards. These include: ChildFund Uganda, Compassion International Uganda, Save the Children International, the African Network for the Prevention and Protection Against Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN) Uganda Chapter, the Uganda Child Rights NGO Network (UCRNN), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Uganda and World Vision Uganda.

Violence in schools is not uncommon. There are many schools today where corporal punishment, sexual harassment of pupils by their teachers, physical and emotional bullying and other forms of torture continue in many schools today. Many learners have abandoned school because of such violence.

Ayo who spoke on behalf of seven organizations reiterated civil society’s commitment to support violence free education.

“A lot of violence against school- going children continues in many schools today, we would like to see that this practice ends. We would like to work with the schools to get to the bottom of this problem,”she said. The study will focus on the different causes of school violence and working with the learners, their teachers and school administrators seek to address these problems.

Adongo added that as part of the initiative, “we will also establish a helpline where school children who experience any kind of violence can call and report.

Mondo Kyateka, the Assistant Commissioner for Youth in the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development said that government will continue to support efforts which will ensure that Ugandan children get an education.

“Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change this world,” he said. That is why we feel it is important to emphasize and support it. Kyateka’s said. This year’s Tumaini Award theme “enjoins all concerned stakeholders to be relevant and pay more attention to the needs of children.”

This initiative forms part of the growing efforts to curb school based violence in Uganda which have been gaining momentum over the last couple of years. In 2012, the Government of Uganda in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other child rights organisations launched a national “Zero Violence in Schools” campaign to protect school-going children in Uganda from violence, exploitation and abuse.

Tumaini Awards

Tumaini was established in 2011 to generate increased awareness about children’s rights and to recognise individuals and organisations that have made significant contributions and efforts to improve the lives of children in Uganda in the areas of health, education, protection and livelihoods. It originates from the Swahili for “HOPE”.

Since its establishment four years ago, the award has gone out to several individuals and organisations whose work has touched and changed the lives of children.

The award committee is now receiving nominations from corporates, individuals, NGOs and CBOs whose work focuses on any of the four thematic areas of: Health, Education, Livelihoods and child protection.

According to Ayo, nominations will be subjected to scrutiny and review by a competent panel of judges, including technical experts representing the different areas specified for the Tumaini Awards Program.

A “best of the best” award will be presented to the individual or organization who the judges will select to have gone above and beyond all others in working to improve children’s rights as they relate to education.

A Lifetime Achievement award will also be presented to one individual who has committed a significant portion of his or her life to helping improving children’s rights as they relate to education. All these will be done at the awards gala, which will take June 13, 2014 on the Day of the African Child.

Quick facts on Tumaini Awards

• Nomination forms can be downloaded from the Tumaini Website at www.tumainiawards.com or picked from the district offices of any of the member organizations sponsoring the awards.

• Completed nomination forms can be returned to the district offices of any of the member organizations sponsoring the awards program. Soft copies can be submitted via email to awards@tumainiawards.com.

• People are free to nominate as many people or organizations as they like, so long as they believe they are truly worthy of being recognized and honored for their work.

• All completed applications/nomination forms must be submitted no later than close-of-business on 1st May 2014.

• All first and second-place runners up will be notified of their standing in early June.