THE family of late Falcon College pupil Jared Boka has launched an online petition calling for the establishment of a National Child Safeguarding and School Safety Framework in Zimbabwe following his drowning in March.
The petition, launched on Wednesday by Samantha N. Boka, urges the government to introduce mandatory national child protection and safety standards for all schools and institutions responsible for the care of children.
Jared drowned in a dam at Falcon College on March 22 after allegedly entering a hazardous area without supervision and where there were no life jackets or lifesaving equipment, according to the petition.
His family says the tragedy exposed serious shortcomings in child safeguarding systems and highlighted the absence of uniform safety standards across Zimbabwe’s education sector.
“In Zimbabwe, we entrust schools and institutions with the vital responsibility of nurturing and protecting our children. However, the lack of a standardized safety framework has led to tragic incidents like Jared’s,” the petition reads.
The petition calls on authorities to establish a national child safeguarding framework applicable to all schools and institutions caring for children.
Among the proposed measures are the deployment of trained safety officers in schools, compulsory child safety training for staff, regular safety audits, the installation of lifesaving equipment such as life jackets and emergency response kits, and the establishment of emergency response teams capable of responding swiftly to accidents.
The family also argues that standardised supervision protocols and improved emergency preparedness are essential to preventing avoidable tragedies and restoring parents’ confidence in the safety of learning institutions.
“The establishment of a National Child Safeguarding and School Safety Framework would not only prevent avoidable tragedies but also reassure parents and guardians that their children are learning in a secure environment,” the petition added.
By Friday afternoon, the petition had attracted more than 1,180 verified signatures, with over 1,000 of those added on the day it was launched, reflecting growing public support for stronger child protection measures.
Petitioners say the proposed framework would honour Jared’s memory while compelling authorities to adopt minimum child safeguarding standards across Zimbabwe’s education sector.
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