The Education Department of the Catholic Diocese of Rumbek started the process to formulate its child protection policies for all diocesan schools.
Educationist Astrid Siegl came from Austria to facilitate the process of writing down the new policies in close collaboration with the diocesan education coordinators, school principals, teachers and other stakeholders.She told Good News Radio that South Sudan lagged behind in matters related to child protection and education levels due to too many years of war and some traditional cultural practices.
Ms. Siegl said the new diocesan education policies would include a program to be implemented by phases in five years.
She added that the policies would be based on the rights of children and include a code of conduct for all diocesan staff, a plan of implementation of activities, contents for workshops with children, a list of consequences of bad behaviour and a reporting scheme.
Ms. Siegl explained the new child protection policies would address key issues including access to basic needs, basic health care for children, ban on corporal punishment in schools, sexual abuse in families and in schools and painful traditional markings.
She added that the child protection policies begin with the children themselves particularly with their own vision.
Ms. Siegl urged the government of South Sudan to protect the rights of children, describing them as the future of the new nation.
She encouraged South Sudanese to take advantage of the education opportunities offered by various organizations to their children.
Ms. Siegl said an educated youth will make South Sudan a peaceful and just State.
The diocesan education department looks forward to dialoguing and partnering with other organizations to implement its new child protection policies.