9. PROTECTION AGAINST CHILD ABUSE AND TORTURE The majority of children, who participated in the forum, were of the view that protection against child abuse and torture is inadequate. Parents or guardians are considered the main offenders. They agreed that parents have the paramount duty and responsibility to protect them from abuse and torture. However, it was children view that parents and guardians administer severe punishment to children than teachers. Punishment by parents varied from offensive verbal abuse, punished from eating food, burning hands with fire for stealing and being chased away from home. At school the teachers do no adhere to the legally provided corporal punishment which is canning for serious breach or grave offences only. Pupils are regularly caned for minor offences such being late for school. Some of the punishments mentioned are, digging, kneeling on concrete stones, walking on knees, doing push-ups in the sun and carrying several buckets of sand. It was recommended by the forum that teachers should adhere to the laid down corporal punishment regulations. They also emphasized that punishment should be proportionate to breach or offence committed. 10. EDUCATION Most children are aware of the Government policy of compulsory and free primary school education. Despite the increasing number of schools in the country, the child forum expressed the following shortcomings: · Schools are far away from children’s homes · Inadequate teaching material · Under-qualified teachers · School monetary contributions are still a major obstacle Recreation, leisure and cultural activities In school, children generally participate in various recreation and cultural activities and are allowed leisure time at school. However, the children complained of lack of or poor conditions of the playgrounds. They also lack sports facilities and equipment. In some 92