Bungatira Sub County in Gulu District is set to pass a by -law that will rescue children from harmful activities

[atim Ruth]

Bungatira Sub County in Gulu District is set to pass a by -law that will rescue children from harmful activities.

The by-law will also punish those who engage children in activities that keep them out of school.

Simon Ojok Opige, the Sub County Chairman Bungatira today told Speak Fm that the by -law will come into force by early December.

Ojok Opige noted that many children are forced out of schools by their parents and sent to do  Agricultural work.

The Bungatira Sub county chairman attributed the problem to the negative attitude of  parents towards the education of their children.

According to Ojok Opige, rural schools which are deep in the vilages are the most affected.

He cited schools such as Kulu Keno and Paminanor were more than 70% of the pupils do not attend classes since their parents demand that they support them in the family farms.

Ojok Opige said in some schools, you find only 200 pupils attending out of the 800 who are in the school register.

This has caused the sub county to form a committee made up of 15 members to tackle child labour which is on the rise in the area. The committee will be tasked with ensuring the welfare of the children.

A 2006 report by the International Labour Organization says child labour is on the decline in the world according to its latest report.

The report entitled: The end of child labour; Within reach says the number of child labourers worldwide fell by 11 percent between 2000 and 2004 from 246 million children to 218 million children.