Tanzania values importance of early childhood development: Iddi

Arusha
The Second Vice President of Zanzibar, Honourable Balozi Seif Ali Iddi, officially opened Tanzania’s first historic biennial forum to address the needs of young children in Tanzania here yesterday.




The Second Vice President of Zanzibar, Honourable Balozi Seif Ali Iddi, presents a keynote address to officially open the forum.

Honourable Iddi who was the guest of honour, said that the Government of the Republic of Tanzania recognizes and values the importance of the early years of children’s development, human capacity development, economic and social development.

” Tanzania has made a commitment not only to increasing investment for the improvement of the lives of children but also accepted to be the first country in the world to set up a pilot the first Early Childhood Indicators project.



The Second Vice President of Zanzibar, Honourable Balozi Seif Ali Iddi, receives a speech from Kelvin Joseph, the chairperson for the Junior Council of the Republic of Tanzania (Kilimanjaro Region). joseph presented the speech on behalf of children in this country outlining problems they are facing. Looking on is Minister for Community Development Gender and Children Sophia Simba.


“Being the first country in the world to pilot this project, it means that we have accepted to be a learning point by other countries and the international community. This calls for government commitment to reach the goals set by the World Summit in 1990, which considers the five rights of the child, that is survival, protection, development , participation and non discrimination,” he said.



An official from Aga Khan Foundation explains, to Honourable Iddi, what his organisation does in helping vulnerable children, during an exhibition held soon after the official opening.

He went on to point that though early childhood development is crucial in the development of a well-adjusted adult, Tanzania has not done enough to improve early childhood care and education especially for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children.
“Our government acknowledges with appreciation that the implementation of programmes for young children is currently in the hands of various Non Governmental partners, who over the years have been providing ECD services to young children especially those who are disadvantaged.
“These partners include Plan Tanzania, world Vision Tanzania, and faith-based organizations like the Catholic Church, Anglican Church, Lutheran, Pentecostal Churches, the Seventh Day Adventist Church as well as Muslim schools commonly known as Madrasa,” He said.



Meeting the Press. . . Hon Haji Mponda, Hon Iddi and Hon Sophia Simba, talks to journalists in the sidelines of the event.