Challenges of teachers as Child
Rights Practitioners
Introduction
Teachers play a vital role in safeguarding the rights of
children in schools.
As child rights practitioners, teachers face various
challenges in ensuring the protection and promotion of
children's rights within the educational context.
Key Challenges
1.Lack of training and support:
Many teachers are not adequately trained on child
rights or child protection.
Need to effectively implement child friendly practices
and child protection policies.
2.Heavy workloads and high
expectations
Teachers are often under a lot of pressure to achieve
high academic standards
Find the time to focus on child rights and child
protection.
3. Unrealistic expectations from parents
and the community
Teachers may face pressure from parents and the
community to prioritize academic achievement over
child rights and child protection.
This can make it difficult for teachers to create a child-
friendly and protective school environment.
4. Lack of awareness of child
rights
Some teachers may not be fully aware of the rights of
children.
This can make it difficult for them to identify and
respond to child right violations
5.Cultural and social barriers
Cultural and social norms may make it difficult for
teachers to implement child-friendly practices and
child protection policies.
6.Limited awareness and understanding:
Teachers may have limited awareness and
understanding of child rights and their implications in
the educational setting.
This lack of knowledge can hinder their ability to
effectively advocate for and protect children's rights
7.Balancing competing priorities:
Teachers often face multiple demands and priorities in
their roles, including academic achievement,
classroom management, and meeting curriculum
requirements.
Balancing these responsibilities with addressing child
rights issues can be challenging, especially when there
are limited resources, time constraints, and pressure to
meet performance targets.
8. Inadequate training and professional
development:
Teachers may not receive sufficient training and
professional development on child rights issues.
They may lack the necessary skills and knowledge to
address specific rights related challenges, such as
addressing diverse learning needs, promoting inclusive
education, or addressing child protection issues.
Without adequate training, teachers may struggle to
effectively integrate child rights principles into their
teaching practices
9. Lack of supportive policies and
resources:
The absence of supportive policies, guidelines, and
resources at the school and system levels can pose
challenges for teachers as child rights practitioners.
Without clear policies and resources, teachers may
struggle to address child rights issues consistently and
effectively. Limited access to support services, such as
counseling or special education resources, can also
hinder teachers' ability to meet the diverse needs of
their students
10. Resistance to change and traditional
practices:
Traditional teaching methods, disciplinary practices,
and cultural norms may not align with child rights
principles.
Teachers may encounter resistance when attempting to
challenge these traditional practices and promote
child-centered and rights-based approaches.
Overcoming resistance and fostering a shift in mindset
and practices can be a significant challenge.
11. Lack of collaboration and
coordination:
Addressing child rights issues requires collaboration
and coordination among various stakeholders,
including teachers, administrators, parents, and
community members.
Lack of effective coordination and collaboration can
hinder the implementation of child rights practices in
schools. Limited communication and cooperation
among stakeholders may impede efforts to create a
supportive and rights-respecting environment for
children
12.Limited parental and community
involvement:
Engaging parents and the wider community in
promoting and protecting children's rights is crucial.
Limited parental involvement, disengagement, or lack
of understanding about child rights can pose
challenges for teachers.
In some cases, cultural or socioeconomic factors may
inhibit parental participation and support in addressing
child rights issues.
STRATEGIES FOR OVERCOMING
THE CHALLENGES
1.Provide teachers with training and support:
teachers should be provided with training on child
rights, child protection and child-friendly practices.
Access to the resources and support they need to
effectively implement these practices and policies.
2.Reduce teacher’s workload and
expectations
Teacher’s workloads and expectations should be
realistic and manageable
This will give them the time and energy they need to
focus on child rights and child protection.
3.Educate parents and the community
about child rights
Parents and the community need to be educated about
the rights of children
Help to raise awareness and support for child-friendly
schools and child protection policies.
4.Sensitize teachers to child rights:
Teachers need to be sensitized to the rights of the
children.
This can be done through training, workshops and
other awareness-raising activities.
5.Address cultural and social barriers
Cultural and social barriers need to be addressed in
order to effectively implement child-friendly practices
and child protection policies.
This can be done through dialogue, community
engagement and policy changes.
Conclusion
By addressing these challenges, we can ensure that all
the teachers equipped to be effective child rights
practitioners.
This will help to create a more child-friendly and
protective school environment for all children.
