Teachers can act as agents who can bring change to villages; the messages of teachers can run as guidelines in the villages”, said Devikananda Timilsina, programme coordinator from Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC) at a national meeting of teachers, whilst clarifying the reasons to choose teachers as mediums for change.

A Kathmandu Declaration entitled ‘Children and our duty’ was issued on the concluding day of the workshop. The declaration points out aspects of trafficking, sexual exploitation, primary health and sanitation and child labour as prime issues of child rights, especially for girl children in rural areas.

The meeting devised the responsibilities and commitment on the part of teachers to protect and promote child rights. The panel of teachers showed their common interest and made vows to work towards the implementation of the existing national strategy to provide free and compulsory education to children and to avoid the extensive use of children in the army.

In a current situation where 60-70% of girl children leave school before completing secondary education, it is mandatory to now implement programmes that aim at improving the education status of girls. The statement released at the workshop promises to raise awareness among rural people on the necessity to educate girls.