19 Children of school-age found hawking snacks, fruits and other consumables during school hours have been taken to the State Children Correctional Centre by the Ekiti State Task Force on Child’s Right (SCRIC).
The children were apprehended at Itawure, Ita-Ido and Aramoko-Ekiti during a monitoring exercise of the task force in Ekiti Central Senatorial District of the State.
The State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Social Development and Gender Empowerment, Mrs. Fola Richie-Adewusi explained that parents and guardians of the children in custody would be prosecuted at the State Family Court.
The Commissioner stressed that the provision of the Child’s Rights makes it an offence to engage children in hawking during school hours. According to her, it is the responsibility of parents to ensure that their children go to school.
Mrs. Richie-Adewusi emphasised that parents who denied their children right to education were actually infringing on the children’s fundamental human rights.
Some opinion leaders in the area commended the State Government for its efforts to guarantee the future of children in the state.
The Chairman of the Efon branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Comrade Taiwo Olofindare condemned the habit of making school-age children hawk goods during school hours. Comrade Olofindare expressed support for government’s efforts at curbing the almajiri syndrome.
Last modified: March 1, 2013
