The rights of our children must be protected

THE EDITOR: It cannot be accepted in this day for pre-schools to treat their charges as young Kern Bobb was treated at his former Fyzabad pre-school as reported recently. I trust that the ministry will continue to improve its monitoring systems and provide support to these private pre-schools so they become better equipped to carry out their duties to our children or to close them down altogether where corrective measures don’t seem to work. More damage is done than good when pre-schoolers are subjected to cruel treatment. These formative years are of the utmost importance in human development and must not be scarred within the educational environment.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child of which TT is a signatory, states in Article 29; State parties agree that the education of the child be directed to: a) The development of the child’s personality, talents and mental and physical abilities to their fullest potential b) The development of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. c) The preparation of the child for responsible life in a free society, in the spirit of understanding, peace, tolerance. Article 19 further states; State parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, while in the care of parents, guardians or any other person who has the care of the child.

GREGORY SLOANE-SEALE
TT Coalition for the Convention on the Rights of the Child
TTCRC
National General Secretary Designate — YMCA of Trinidad and Tobago
Executive Mmeber — TT Coalition on the Rights of the Child (TTCRC)