The Ministry of Education has launched guidelines for the establishment and management of learner’s council in primary schools.

According to the Ministry, the establishment of the learners’ council will help consolidating matters and rights of children starting from the community to their respective primary schools.

Speaking during the unveiling ceremony in Lilongwe, deputy minister of education Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima said it is high time that children be fully equipped with knowledge and voice out issues that affect them.

Kambauwa Wirima added that the guidelines will play a critical role in curbing issues of vandalism in schools.

“This will also curb issues of vandalism in schools because I think when somebody is equipped with information of their rights, there is also along to be equipped with information of their responsibility.

“Because rights do come with responsibilities, but it will also bring a sense of ownership and once they are equipped with the right information it will go a long way with the responsibility,” said Wirima.

On his part, Senior Technical Advisor on Policy Advocacy and Government Relations for Save the Children John Chipeta said the guidelines will assist in restoring discipline among learners in primary schools.

He said: “We are looking forward to a number of challenges to be addressed, one is the issue of discipline where different stakeholders had different approached now they are going to have harmonised approach.”

Meanwhile, Director of Corporate Services at Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) Frank Chisambula said the guidelines are a significant step towards management issues of children in schools.

“The guideline are really very important to Malawians because they will be crucial in managing schools by setting standards in terms of how issues are going to be managed,” said Chisambula.

The guidelines have been developed in partnership with Save the Children, UNICEF, Plan International and MHRC.