The Day of the African Child has been celebrated on June 16 every year since 1991, when it was first initiated by the Organisation of African Unity now African Union. It honors those who participated in the Soweto Uprising in 1976 on that day. It also raises awareness of the continuing need for improvement of the education provided to African children.
In Soweto, South Africa, on June 16, 1976, about ten thousand black school children marched in a column more than half a mile long, protesting the poor quality of their education and demanding their right to be taught in their own language. Hundreds of young students were shot. More than a hundred people were killed in the protests of the following two weeks, and more than a thousand were injured.
On June 16th every year, governments, NGOs, international organisations and other stakeholders gather to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the full realization of the rights of children Africa. For 2014, the theme chosen returns to the roots of the movement: A child-friendly, quality, free, and compulsory education for all children in Africa.
38 years after the death of the Soweto youth little change has been seen in the education sector. The learning environment in most rural schools in Zimbabwe are deplorable. Students learn whilst sitting on floors,Government not properly funding the sector and moreover the sector is facing brain drain as human capital is migrating to other countries. Free education is yet to materialise. The Sowetan Youth are still turning in their graves asking themselves " Is this what we died for". There is urgent need for African leaders to now walk the talk and stop politicising the youth's march.
