Minister directs RCs, DCs to support inclusive education

ARUSHA: The Minister of State in the President’s Office for Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), Mohamed Nchengerwa, has instructed all regional and district commissioners across the country to actively identify children with special needs whose parents have denied them access to education.

Some parents, the Minister noted, hide children with disabilities, a practice that goes against the country’s inclusive education strategy.

The Minister issued the directive on Wednesday while officiating the 30th anniversary of inclusive education in the Arusha region.

At the well-attended event in the northern part of the country, Mr. Nchengerwa emphasized that all children are entitled to receive an education. He urged regional and district commissioners, who chair security committees in their respective areas, to identify all children with special needs to facilitate their enrollment in schools.

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“Apart from identifying these children, advise and ensure that parents and guardians send their children to schools. They should be guided by experts so that the children can be enrolled as soon as possible and begin their studies,” he stated.

Citing available records, Mr. Nchengerwa mentioned that by 2020, there were 28,482 students with special needs in the country, a number that rose to 78,429 in 2024.

He added that Tanzania has set aside a total of 1,088 schools to accommodate these students and provide them with necessary facilities, including dormitories in about 309 schools.