Photo: Seated from Left, Dr Sanwl Laize, RMO, Dr James Barongo, TADEPA CEO
Childcare stakeholders are calling for the closure of unlicensed Daycare center
Mutayoba Arbogast
The session for evaluating National Multsectoral Early Childhood Development Programme (NM-ECDP ), which was held over the weekend, in Kgera region headquarters, Bukoba,has called for measures to be taken to close unregistered Daycare centers, in order to ensure that the children’s welfare is protected.
It was sponsored by Tanzania Early Childhood Development Network (TECDEN) and a Kagera based organisation, Tanzania Development and AIDS Association (TADEPA.
The meeting brought together social welfare officers from all eight district councils and municipal council, Governmental Organizations, religious and educational institutions, and the Regional Committee for NM-ECDP, development and to assess the the implementation of the programme for the period of January- March 2024 in Kagera region.
The programme concerns young children from 0 to eight years old.
The session observed that there are many Childcare centers that do not have the status of being called centers because they do not have the necessary infrastructures and, requirements and too bad they are not registered with the government.
However, Abimeleck Richard from TADEPA, wanted the matter of Daycare centers registration to be keenly observed as the community has a wiil for establishment but may face hurdles in the process.
Kagera Regional Medical Officer( RMO), who chaired the meeting , Dr. Samwel Laizer, called upon both, Regional Community Development Officer and Education Officer to take immediate action.
“It is very dangerous that our children are sent to an environment that is not accredited, you find someone has a single room, only separated by a curtain, and say it is a children care centre!. It has no toilet with quality,bathroom or where children can rest”.
He also warned that if we are not careful, it is possible that our children will be taught things that are against Tanzanian values such as homosexuality, considering that now there is a big wave of this dirt being spread in various places including African countries.
Kagera Regional Social Welfare Officer, Rebecca Gwambasa has said that the aim of Daycare centers for young children under the age of five is to provide children with care services of early development in the areas of health, nutrition, early learning, education, Responsive care giving ànd protection and security.
“It is good for the community to cooperate with the government to ensure that these centers are sustainable for the community, parents and guardians to help children especially in important needs, including contributing to the issue of food availability in those centers as they help a lot in the upbringing and development of children,” said Gwambasa.
According to Tanzania Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, by November, 2023, it had registered 3,233 Day care centers, serving a total of 328,857 children. The Ministry also app;,,reciated the establishment of 206 social daycare centers where there serving a total of 11,674 children.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Mercy Kagaruki, Kagera Chief Nursing Officer assured the chairpeson who was also guest of honour, that the team will make a follow ups to reach solutions to the challenges, including registered Day care centers, unlawfully turned into Pre primary classes, some parents not being ready to school food program, and poor registration of children’s birth certificates in Biharamulo district, which registerd 1067 children (50 per cent).
