The theme for this year’s celebration is “Protect the Child” focusing on three (3) sub-themes as follows:
- Promoting Child Health and Safety;
- Preventing Child Abuse;
- Pursuing Children’s Education.
The objectives for the month include:
- To sensitize parents and community of the necessity and importance of child protection and the mechanisms and services available;
- To create awareness in parents and the community of how they can work together to prevent child abuse and promote child safety;
- To emphasize the importance of the cooperative efforts of home, school and community in the teaching/learning process.
- To emphasize the responsibility of everyone in enhancing a national culture of child safety and protection.
The activities include:
- Opening address- May 7th, 2007- Minister for Social Development
- Child Sunday/Sabbath- May 5th and 6th, 2007;
- Street marches – May 28-31, 2007;
- School activities- in house activities which include discussion on the theme and sub-themes as well as parental, community and children’s responsibility;
- Special lunch for children involved in the School Feeding Programme.
- Sale of Child Month Tee Shirts
- Radio and TV programmes including a documentary on “Child Abuse” and a jingle on protecting children.
- Dialogue/discussion- “ the Child and the Law”
- Airing of Slogans- ( these will be done by students);
- Launch of Revised Standards for the Regulations of Early Childhood Services under the Education Act;
- Closing address May 31st- Minister for Education
The Ministry of Education anticipates that all schools will participate fully in this year’s celebration. Schools are encouraged to develop and implement programmes and activities in celebration of the month.
For this year’s street march, it is proposed that it should be a street parade with Costumes, Floats and Child Month Tee Shirts focusing on the themes.