CAPE COAST – Teachers across Ghana have been cautioned against sending students out of school during or after instructional hours to engage in farming, domestic chores, or other non-academic activities.
Authorities say such practices constitute child labour and violate both children’s rights and the professional code of conduct governing teachers.
The warning was issued by the Central Regional Director for Gender and Social Protection, Ms. Richlove Amonoo, during the *Central Regional Dialogue on Child Labour* held in Cape Coast. The forum was organised by SEND Ghana.
What The Director Said*
Addressing stakeholders, Ms. Amonoo stressed that assigning pupils to work on farms, fetch water, run errands, or perform household duties during school hours deprives them of learning opportunities and exposes them to physical and emotional harm.
She explained that such practices are contrary to Ghana’s child protection laws and may attract legal sanctions, including fines, imprisonment, or both*.
> “Schools are expected to provide a safe and conducive environment for teaching and learning,” she said. “Teachers have a duty to uphold the highest standards of child protection and safeguard the welfare of every learner.”
Ms. Amonoo clarified that while children may assist with light household chores appropriate to their age outside school hours, requiring them to undertake work that interferes with education or exposes them to hazardous conditions amounts to child labour.
She urged teachers to familiarise themselves with Ghana’s child protection laws and education policies, and warned that no child should be used as a source of labour under the guise of discipline, punishment, or assistance.
Call For Collective Action
The Director appealed to parents, school authorities, traditional leaders, and community members to work together to eliminate child labour by promoting regular school attendance and raising awareness about children’s rights.
> “Protecting children from exploitation is a shared responsibility that requires the commitment of all stakeholders,” she added.
The regional dialogue forms part of ongoing efforts by SEND Ghana and partners to strengthen advocacy against child labour and promote child protection across communities in the Central Region.
_By Daily Newsflash_
#ChildProtection #EndChildLabour #EducationForAll #Teachers #GhanaEducation #SENDGhana #CentralRegion #DailyNewsflash
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Key takeaway: School hours = learning hours. Light chores at home outside school time are okay, but anything that interferes with class or is hazardous is illegal.
