EDITORIAL: Address street children problem before it gets out of hand

The International Day for Street Children was first celebrated five years ago and usually falls on April 12. The issue of street children—like homelessness—is a worldwide phenomenon that does not spare even the most developed and rich countries. When President Kagame brought up the issue of children loitering the streets instead of being in school, it was obvious that those responsible for children’s welfare would find it difficult to extricate themselves from blame. Some time ago, the government announced that parents who let their children to run loose instead of going to school would be taken to task, but it seems it turned out to be an empty threat as gangs of very young children are back on the streets. They are present mostly around markets and shopping centres begging for coins or offering to carry a shoppers’ wares for a small fee. Maybe the issue of street children is not as serious as in neighbouring countries, a more compelling reason to address it before it goes out of hand, but there seems to be no sense of urgency. When the Senate revisited the issue this week, they called for more “research” to be conducted. What kind of research is needed to compel mayors to get the kids off the streets and back into the classrooms? Why aren’t parents not called to account instead of calling for unending “research”, “seminars” and the never ending file of consultants who come up with policy papers that end in the bottom drawer? It is time local leaders stopped reading from the old rule book and took pragmatic approaches to address the issue of street children once and for all. What is needed is putting their hearts into solving the issue, the other pieces will fall into place.

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EDITORIAL: Address street children problem before it gets out of hand