NGO- Coalition on Children Rights (NGO-CCR) has criticized government over its decision to establish pre- schools in prisons to enable children who are detained alongside their parents attend school.

The Minister of gender, community development and social welfare, Patricia Kaliati earlier told YFM in an interview that plans are underway to establish pre-schools in prisons to enable children enjoy and exercise their right to education.

But reacting to the decision, NGO-CCR Executive Director, Desmond Mhango, said the decision is ridiculous and that it contradicts with the laws of the country which do not allow children to be imprisoned.

“It is very sarcastic and surprising that this decision is coming from government, because there is no child instrument that allows children to be in prison,” he said.

“The laws of Malawi clearly indicates that no child should be imprisoned under any circumstances, even the international treaties that Malawi ascent to, do not allow that, if government is simply planning do is it only supporting the detention of  children,” he added.

Mhango has however asked government to find better ways of removing the children from the prisons rather than opening pre-schools.