KABUL - President Ashraf Ghani on Monday urged teachers not to allow beating, insulting and terrifying children at schools under any reason.

In his message on the Children’s Day, the president said in a statement that: “I am happy to congratulate our beloved children and all countrymen on this day, which is a good opportunity for all of us to give more attention to children’s problems and work for their wellbeing and happiness.”

The president said science had proved that the foundations of a human’s personality were built in his/her childhood. “It means the future of a society is tied with how we treat our children today.”

He said children’s health, nutrition, rearing and education were of great importance for prosperity and development of the society.

The president lamented a number of children lost lives in Afghanistan every year to malnutrition and treatable diseases, a situation that was not acceptable.

Another problem in the Afghan society, the president said, was subjecting children to hard labour and forced and under age marriages, something needed to be stopped.

He said though fortunately millions of children went to school in the country, yet a large number of them, particularly girls, were deprived of their right to education.

“Still sometimes we hear on the news that the enemies of reality have torched schools. Similarly bombs placed on the routes, explosions and similar inhuman acts continue to claim the lives of our children. These actions are intolerable.”

The president said not only terrorism, poverty and lack of medical facilities but family violence also threatened children’s personalities.

“Children like childish things. They want to see themselves safe and loved by others, they want to be happy. Their minds are full of questions and they demand answers, they need entertainment.”

The president urged the media, prayer leaders, moderate figures and reformists to inform families about the dangers of violence against children.

“In my address at the start of this academic year, I have said students should not be beaten, terrified or insulted.”

He said he would like to use the children’s day to renew his call on teachers not to use corporal punishment under any reason. He said disabled children should be given special attention and it was responsibility of the government to establish exclusive schools for disabled children in provinces.

He said the government was committed to improving the situation of children in light of the country’s laws and international conventions.

He urged government organizations, civil society, religious leaders and families to play their part in improving children’s lives. (Pajhwok)