By 
In observance of World Children’s Day (WCD) on November 20th, children across Zambia have called on policymakers to accelerate efforts to ensure their right to quality and inclusive education.
Over 80 children from all ten provinces participated in a National Children’s Parliament in Lusaka, highlighting the need for immediate action to address barriers to education, especially for disadvantaged children.
The National Children’s Parliament, held on Monday at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre, provided a platform for young voices to share their priorities and concerns.
The children presented their collective message, gathered from consultations with over 1,000 peers across the country, calling for urgent steps to guarantee that every child has access to education.
“Our voices, gathered through consultations, outline urgent priorities to ensure every child can enjoy their right to education,” said 16-year-old Aaron Makina from Central Province, a Member of the Children’s Parliament.
Makina urged policymakers to listen to children, include them in decisions that affect their lives, and adopt solutions to ensure equal educational opportunities for all.
Makina emphasized that investing in children’s education is not only vital for their present but for their future as well.
“Access to quality education is a fundamental right for every child, and we urge the government to make it a priority,” he said.
For 12-year-old Joy Mulubale from Choma, being part of the Children’s Parliament was a dream come true. “Since I was young, I wanted to understand what happens in my country and how I could help others.
The Children’s Parliament has made that dream a reality,” she shared.
Mulubale added that the experience had empowered her and her peers to become positive contributors to the country’s development.
In her address as the Guest of Honor, Minister of Community Development and Social Services, Dorren Mwamba, stressed the importance of child participation in development.
“Child participation is crucial. We advocate for children’s rights, but it’s equally important to involve them in decisions that shape their environments and futures,” she said.
Mwamba also highlighted the role of the Children’s Parliament in preparing children for future leadership.
“This initiative is vital in providing children with meaningful experiences that will prepare them for leadership roles in the future,” Mwamba added.
She expressed government’s support for the event, noting that the session’s alignment with World Children’s Day underscored its significance.
Dr. Penelope Campbell, UNICEF Zambia Representative, also spoke at the event, emphasizing the importance of working together to improve children’s education.
“UNICEF is committed to supporting the children, government, and partners in ensuring that children in Zambia have access to education and a future full of opportunities,” Campbell said.
She further highlighted that children’s rights and lives were at a crossroads worldwide, with climate change, economic pressures, and conflict posing significant challenges.
“Children are facing rapid and continued changes that threaten the very foundations of what childhood will look like in the future,” Campbell explained.
She noted that global efforts were needed to address these challenges and ensure that children’s rights were respected and fulfilled.
This year’s World Children’s Day marks the 35th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and the theme “Listen to the Future” encourages governments and communities to engage children as active participants in shaping their futures.
The theme emphasized the urgency for governments to recognize and address the challenges children face, including conflict, climate change, and disruptive technology.
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