TANZANIA: TODAY, schools across the country open their doors to students and it is a moment we should all celebrate. Parents, it is time to seize the golden opportunity that the government has so generously offered free education! Yes, you read that right.
Free. The best part? It doesn’t matter if your child has a disability or not. This is your chance to send every child to school, whether they are running, hopping, or rolling towards their destiny. Education is a right, not a privilege.
So, get those school uniforms on and make sure no child is left behind, because a nation that leaves its children out of school is a nation losing its future. Now, a word to our beloved private schools: Let’s be humane and considerate. We know that the fees can sometimes feel like a mountain, but if you’re sending children back home simply because a few shillings are missing, think again.
You’re not just hurting parents trying to make ends meet; you’re slamming the door on the future of innocent children. These children, who one day may have the ability to shape the world, could instead be left with nothing more than a door slammed in their face.
Don’t let that be your legacy. To all the private school heads out there: This is a call to show some grace. Be flexible and patient. The same grace you extend to those children in your classrooms today could very well be the spark that ignites a revolution of intellect tomorrow.
You never know, the next great scientist or entrepreneur might be the very child you decide to help today. And let’s not forget the public commuter buses, which many schoolchildren rely on to get to school. It’s time to develop a culture of compassion.
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Just because a child is paying 200/- while an adult may be paying 600/-, doesn’t mean that child should be subjected to ridicule.
The term ‘chenga’ should be retired— along with any other negative epithets directed at our future generation. Instead, let’s treat them with the dignity they deserve. They’re not “chenga” or “remnants”; they are our future leaders, doctors and innovators.
They deserve respect, no matter how much money they’re handing over for their fare. We’re all in this together. The government, private schools, parents and even the public transport systems—our roles are interconnected.
The success of every child is the success of every parent and every institution. Education is the most powerful weapon to change the world. Let’s use it and use it wisely. A child’s future should never be held hostage to fees, stigma, or prejudice.
So, let’s all take a collective step forward. Parents, make sure your children are at school. Private schools, let’s show kindness.
Public buses, let’s show respect. Because when we all come together to lift up our children, we’re not just educating the next generation—we’re shaping the future of the country. Let’s make this the year that no child gets left behind.
