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CHILD CARE AND PROTECTION
(6)
the quality of the relationship the child has with a
parent or other person and the effect of inaintaining
that relationship;
( e )
the child's religious and spiritual views;
V)
the child's level of education and
educational
requirements;
(g)
whether the child is of sufficient age and maturity so as
to be capable of forming his or her own views and, if
so, those views are to be given due weight in
accordance with the age and maturity of the child;
(h)
the effect on the child of a delay in making a
decision.
(3)
This Act shall be interpreted and administered so that
the best interests of the child is the paramount consideration and
in accordance with the following principle-
(a) children are entitled to be protected from abuse,
neglect and harm or threat of harm;
(b)
a family is the preferred environment for .thecare and
upbringing of children and the responsibility for the
protection of children rests primarily with the
parents;
(c) if, with available support services, a family can provide
a safe and nurturing environment for a child, support
services should be provided;
(6)
where the child is of sufficient age and maturity so as to
be capable of forming his or her own views, those
views should be taken into account when decisions
relating to the child are made;
( e )
kinship ties and the child's attachment to the extended
family should be preserved if possible; and
(f)
decisions relating to children should be made and
implemented in a timely manner.
(4) For the purposes of this Part-
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