Teachers’ key role in child protection
Teachers need to gain confidence of small children.
TEACHERS and child-minders should do all they can to gain the trust of the small girls and boys in their care, so that the children will share with them incidents of physical and sexual abuse.
That was the message from Mfolozi Deputy Mayor Cllr Edna Ntshangase at a Child Protection Week event held at Amangwe Village yesterday.
‘You should be the ones they come to when their little hearts are breaking and they carry heavy burdens,’ Ntshangase told the teachers and helpers from 15 area crèches that are all members of the Amangwe Village Toy Library.
‘Don’t be too quick to punish the children if, for example, they have not done their homework.
‘Perhaps they were left alone, or did not have a light to work by.
‘You must be aware of the circumstances and challenges they face when they are away from you.
‘You need to be very approachable; they must love you, not fear you. Then they will confide in you.’
Some 350 children enjoyed the fun sports day arranged by Amangwe Village, thanks to the wonderful sponsorship from the Mfolozi Municipality as well as Ocean Audio.
