11/06/2026
*PARENTS HAVE THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY TO RAISE THEIR CHILDREN*
The Bible teaches that God entrusted children primarily to their parents, not to the government. Parents have the God-given responsibility to love, teach, guide, discipline, and raise their children according to what is right.
_"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)_
From the beginning, God established the family as the primary institution responsible for raising children. Parents know their children better than government officials, bureaucracies, or political institutions ever can. Therefore, parents should have the primary authority and responsibility in making decisions concerning the upbringing, education, values, and welfare of their children.
A government's role should be to support families and protect children, not to replace parents. When governments increasingly take decision-making power away from parents, the family is weakened. Strong nations are built upon strong families, and strong families require parents who are free to fulfil their responsibilities toward their children.
Throughout Scripture, parents are repeatedly commanded to teach their children God's truth and prepare them for life.
_"And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children." (Deuteronomy 6:6β7)_
When parental authority is undermined, there is a danger that children may be shaped more by political agendas, cultural trends, or government policies than by the values and convictions of their own families. Parents should therefore remain actively involved in their children's upbringing and should not surrender their responsibilities to others.
This does not mean that government has no role. Government has a legitimate responsibility to protect children from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and harm. However, protecting children is different from taking over the role that God assigned to parents.
The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) believes that parents should remain the primary decision-makers in the lives of their children. The party supports policies that strengthen families, protect parental rights, and recognize the important role parents play in raising the next generation.
Parents should be encouraged to take an active interest in their children's education, moral development, and future. A society that respects parental responsibility strengthens families and benefits future generations.
When families are strong, communities are strong. When communities are strong, nations are strong. Therefore, laws should strengthen the family and support parents in fulfilling their God-given responsibilities rather than unnecessarily removing authority from them.
_"Children are an heritage of the LORD." (Psalm 127:3)_
Children are a gift from God, and parents have the sacred responsibility of raising them. Governments should assist families, not replace them.
