Children's Councils in the country have called upon the next government to give more priorities to their concerns when it is voted into power.
Speaking to The Guardian exclusively yesterday in Dar es Salaam, alongside a meeting between the representatives of Children's Councils they earnestly urged the next government to be voted into power at the end of October this year to ensure all necessary issues touching the livelihoods of children are given first priority in their development agenda.
Amina Salum, Chairperson of the Temeke District Children’s Council said that the coming government should implement the promises they have been promising every after five years during campaigns without fulfilling them.
“There are many street children in every town and cities across the country of whom the government, together with some parents has failed to address their problems.” Adding, “for example many of the services children must get from their government like free education, medical and other fundamental services are not provided to the optimal,” she blamed.
She further said that some children have fled away from school because of the many contributions imposed in schools in the country. Worse still, some children have been penalised twice as much for delaying to pay some of the fees. “This is a shame to the country that is endowed with rich resources almost in every corner of this country,” she reacted.
Najib Said a representative of the Temeke Children’s Council also concurred with her chairperson, saying it was unbecoming to seethe matters regarding the welfare of children who almost constitute half of the Tanzania’s population are not given precedence by the government of the day.
She therefore called upon political parties to ensure they propagate the children’s challenges during their ongoing political campaigns, and urged the party that will eventually be voted into government to address all the identified problems facing the children across the country.
Sadam Hamidu Children’s representative from Lindi District also urged the government to ensure children get quality education, good health services and protection.
He also commended efforts done by Save the Children in Tanzania for enhancing their understanding of their rights by local government officials, parents and communities, among many.
Reacting to children’s concerns against political parties, Head of Communication with Civic United Front (CUF) Dahlia Majid said her Party had accommodated all children’s concerns in their manifesto.
“It is a shame for some children not to go to school simply because of lack of 200/-, are we really serious? What are the District Councils doing?” she reacted.
She promised that when Ukawa manages to enter the State House, according to their manifesto, they will offer free education to all children from kindergarten to university levels.
Majid revealed that the unending contributions in schools are due to poor pay teachers get from their government. She is sure that when teachers’ pays are improved, there will no longer be more contributions in schools across the country.
For her part, TLP’s Women Chairperson Ester Makasi said that the possibility of offering free education to all the children of this country is possible because there are abundant resources.
ADC’s Secretary General Lydia Bendera said that there is a need for the Tanzanian Ministry of Education and Vocational Training to overhaul all its departments so as to make education become of high quality. And hence be of great benefits to the children and society as a whole.
CCM’s Assistant Administrative Officer from Dar es Salaam office Mwajuma Nyamka said that one of the objectives of the government of the Ruling Party Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) to introduce the Big Results Now in Education Programme (BRNEd) Project is to improve education quality in Tanzanian primary and secondary schools.
She further noted that the government in collaboration with other key stakeholders has been working tirelessly to address the children’s identified problems, which cannot be eliminated overnight, but she said with time it would be possible.
Children’s right to be heard is internationally recognised by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. Tanzania has ratified both of these international instruments, and the Tanzania Law of the Child Act 2009 recognises the right of children to participate in all decisions which affect them in the family, at school, and in their communities.
Children, therefore, possess the right to participate in how their communities are governed by local government authorities. However, realising children’s right to participate is challenging given deep-seated social views that children have limited status and capacity.
That is why children’s councils in the country have been supported by Save the Children as one avenue to promote children’s participation in local governance in Tanzania.
Findings show that child-led organisations have contributed to improving local service delivery to children, however, councils are operational in a limited number of districts, and, where councils are in place, local authorities are yet to consistently involve them in their decision-making processes.
Children have the right to participate in how their communities are governed by local government authorities.
Children’s councils have made children’s problems more visible in their local areas. As a consequence, local governments have been made more aware of the challenges faced by children and their responsibility for improving child-related services.
Factors inhibiting the effective involvement of councils in local government include the lack of accountability mechanisms and guidance on the functions of guardians, limited funds and limited political will.
Government needs to fast-track its commitment to child participation at the local level. This means extending the councils throughout the country and providing clear guidance on the roles of the councils, the involvement of adults, and the responsibility of the government and civil society in supporting councils
In 2002, the Junior Council of the United Republic of Tanzania was created at the national level and the government committed to extend the Council throughout the country. Responding to slow implementation by the government, Save the Children created childled organisations (children’s councils) in several districts in Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.
The children’s councils were created primarily by Save the Children, with some involvement from local authorities and children themselves. The councils are child-led organisations and their members are elected by children. Adults may occupy advisory positions. All children (persons below the age of 18) may become members of the councils, and seats are reserved for most vulnerable children.
Impact of the children’s councils
Children’s councils have made children’s problems more visible in their local areas. As a consequence, local governments have been made more aware of the challenges faced by children and their responsibility for improving child-related services. The councils have been actively involved in identifying vulnerable children in their communities and facilitating their access to services, for example, re-integration into school or access to anti-retrovirals.
Children’s access to information held by the local governments has also become easier. Local officials occasionally consult the councils, and the association of the councils with local authorities has legitimised the councils in the eyes of the community as the representatives of children’s views.
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