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Geita Policeman
Steps in to help the child tie shoelaces. Photo: Shinyanga Press Club
The safety of children in schools has
become a matter of paramount importance in today’s society, especially as
incidents of child abuse are on the rise. Gone are the days when every adult
treated someone else's child as their own. Now, children are growing up in a
world where fear and mistrust are beginning to define their interactions, even
with those closest to them.
Recently, horrifying incidents have
left parents devastated. In Dar es Salaam, a tragedy unfolded when the parents
of a six-year-old girl, a second grader at Mbagala Kuu Primary School, found
themselves in tears after their child was reportedly raped and killed.
The perpetrators remain at large,
while the family is left to grapple with an unimaginable loss. A parent’s worst
nightmare is to believe their child is safe at school, only to face such a grim
reality.
Parents and guardians expect their
children to be looked after on their way to school, whether on public or
private transport. Yet, this trust is increasingly being shattered. The journey
to school, once considered safe, has become fraught with dangers that no parent
could have foreseen.
Children, who should feel secure as
they embark on their school day, are now escorted by adults who themselves are
often untrustworthy. Upon reaching public transportation, they are frequently
told there’s no room for them, or if allowed to board, they are made to stand
because they pay a lower fare than adults. Groups of children traveling
together are admonished to keep quiet, as adults wish to listen to the radio or
engage in conversations.
Once they arrive at school, the
challenges persist. Latecomers, often delayed by public transport issues, face
severe punishment, with little consideration for the difficulties they
encounter during their commute. But even within the supposed sanctuary of
school walls, safety is not guaranteed.
Child abuse is not confined to
developing nations; even in Western countries, where child safety is expected
to be paramount, instances of abuse are all too common. Professor Damiani
Gabagambi, who lived and worked abroad in 2003, recounted a disturbing story of
an African child who was bullied by white classmates.
They rubbed the child’s hands, trying
to remove his skin color, and even attempted to inspect his private parts to
see if he was black all over. This traumatic experience led to a significant
dispute and the eventual transfer of the child to another school. Such
incidents underscore the vulnerability of children, even in environments deemed
safe.
These incidents of abuse highlight the
deteriorating safety of children. Children, who are the nation's most valuable
asset and a symbol of the country’s future, must be fiercely protected. It’s no
wonder that during major international events, children are often at the forefront,
offering greetings and raising the soccer ball.
When the President visits another country,
children are given special roles in the welcome ceremony, looking on with joy
and hope. Yet, behind these ceremonial roles lies a harsh reality that children
in Tanzania face every day.
Students use bodaboda transport to school, clinging together and without segment. Photo: Courtesy
The grim reality of child safety in
Tanzania is reflected in the statistics. According to a 2019 UNICEF report,
over 60% of children in Tanzania have experienced some form of violence,
including physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. This staggering figure
demands urgent and effective action. Children living in vulnerable
environments, particularly those from poor families, are at a higher risk of
abuse.
This starkly contrasts with children from
wealthy families, who enjoy better security services, including private
transport, security guards, and even technological devices like security
cameras.
In Tanzania, the safety of children
from poor families has reached a critical level. These children live in
constant fear and anxiety, deprived of essential services like education and
healthcare. In Dar es Salaam, for example, many children are forced to beg on
the streets instead of attending school.
This leaves them exposed to severe risks, such
as crossing dangerous roads without considering their safety and sometimes
being victimized by adults who see them as petty criminals. These street
children are in dire need of urgent assistance. The government, along with
non-governmental organizations, must establish robust programs to ensure these
children return to school and receive proper healthcare.
Society must also rethink its role in
protecting these children. If livestock are given high levels of protection by
being fitted with bells, then children, too, deserve to be equipped with
special devices like microchips to ensure they can be easily located if lost or
abused.
Police statistics from 2021 reveal an
alarming increase in child abuse cases. That year alone, a total of 11,499
child abuse cases were reported, with the regions of Arusha, Tanga, Shinyanga,
Mwanza, and Ilala leading in the number of incidents.
The most common offenses were rape
(5,899 cases), pregnancies among students (1,677 cases), sodomy (1,114 cases),
school dropouts (790 cases), and physical assault (390 cases). These numbers
paint a grim picture of the state of child safety in the country.
According to the Child Act No. 21 of
2009, every child has the right to live and receive proper care, protection,
and development without any form of discrimination. Children must be protected
from violence and provided with a safe and peaceful learning environment.
However, the impact of child abuse on
a child's health, mental well-being, and economic status is profound. These
effects also extend to parents, the community, and the nation as a whole, as an
affected child becomes a burden to society and the government. This burden is
felt across all levels of society, from the immediate family to the broader
community.
Education statistics (BEST 2020) show
that a total of 1,135 primary school students and 5,340 secondary school
students dropped out due to pregnancy. The regions with the highest rates of
teenage pregnancies in primary schools are Mwanza (98 cases), Tanga (97 cases),
Ruvuma (84 cases), Geita (78 cases), and Morogoro (71 cases).
In secondary schools, Mwanza (491 cases),
Morogoro (389 cases), Dodoma (381 cases), Mara (369 cases), and Ruvuma (327
cases) topped the list. These figures reveal a troubling trend that requires
immediate attention and intervention. The effects of abuse at school and home
are devastating, leading many children to drop out and engage in activities
that are detrimental to society. Child abuse significantly contributes to the
decline in the country's economic growth and causes a shortage of the nation's
workforce.
In response to these challenges, the
Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women, and Special Groups has
implemented a comprehensive strategy involving sectoral ministries and
stakeholders in child protection and safety.
The government must establish and
strengthen systems to protect children both in and out of school, ensuring
their safety at every stage. Countries like New Zealand and Canada have made
significant strides in ensuring the safety of children in schools and
communities.
In New Zealand, the government has
implemented a child protection system that emphasizes quality healthcare,
school safety, and children's rights. Schools have strict policies to prevent
abuse and harassment, and teachers receive special training to identify and
address problems early. As a result, New Zealand has significantly reduced
child abuse incidents and improved children's well-being by 88%, according to a
2022 UNICEF study.
Similarly, in Canada, the government
has focused on strengthening social systems to ensure that children receive
quality education and healthcare without discrimination. Child protection
programs are in place in schools and the community, providing children with a
safe environment to learn and live.
These successes show that with robust,
actionable plans, Tanzania can improve child safety and ensure that all
children have access to their fundamental rights to education and healthcare,
regardless of their family's economic status. This is a responsibility that
falls on all of us as a society that cares about the future of our nation.