Freedom From Mama Sitta

[Augustine Moshi]

Minister Sitta has announced a crackdown on unregistered schools. She says that it is illegal for an unregistered school to teach students. It should not be, and it probaly is so only in her mind.

There is a fundamental law that says that it is up to parents to choose where to educate their children. Mrs. Sitta can say that qualifications obtained from an unregistered school will not be recognized by government, but that should be all.

We do not like this kind of communism where government tries to lord it over us in every sphere of life. When will Mrs. Sitta, and others like her, recover from our failed socialist experiment? When will she wake up to the fact that decisions about where to educate children are made by parents and not by her? We can educate our kids at home if we so wish.

We thank God for the gift of many school owners. Imagine what would happen if we all had to rely on Mama Sitta's few (and often lousy) schools! Many people have spent huge amounts of time and resources trying to register their schools. This, like all bureaucratic undertakings in Tanzania, is enormously difficult. While they await Mama Sitta and others to respond to their applications, they ought to be able to continue to provide education to our children.

It is my prayer that some fully awake parent or education provider will take a restraining order on this wild mini-star. She should be restrained from exercising authority over private schools, for she infact does not have such authority.

 

[MtuKwao]

Minister Sitta has announced a crackdown on unregistered schools. She says that it is illegal for an unregistered school to teach students. It should not be, and it probaly is so only in her mind.

There is a fundamental law that says that it is up to parents to choose where to educate their children. Mrs. Sitta can say that qualifications obtained from an unregistered school will not be recognized by government, but that should be all.

We do not like this kind of communism where government tries to lord it over us in every sphere of life. When will Mrs. Sitta, and others like her, recover from our failed socialist experiment? When will she wake up to the fact that decisions about where to educate children are made by parents and not by her? We can educate our kids at home if we so wish.

We thank God for the gift of many school owners. Imagine what would happen if we all had to rely on Mama Sitta’s few (and often lousy) schools! Many people have spent huge amounts of time and resources trying to register their schools. This, like all bureaucratic undertakings in Tanzania, is enormously difficult. While they await Mama Sitta and others to respond to their applications, they ought to be able to continue to provide education to our children.

It is my prayer that some fully awake parent or education provider will take a restraining order on this wild mini-star. She should be restrained from exercising authority over private schools, for she infact does not have such authority.

Agree, private schools have and are filling a vacuum that exists and, honestly, are extremely important complement to what the government can offer in terms of quality and quantity.

Having said so, I do sincerely think that the private schools must run under a clearly defined policy, rules and regulations that aim at fulfilling our aspirations as a country. Nations, especially the likes of ours, can ignore the naturing of its young at tender age to its peril.

I have seen books used in those International Schools teaching the likes of Mozart and everything else that promotes the culture and values of Europeans into our young. Lately the Asians have joined in the game with children stories and cartoons made in the east. I have seen wives of diplomats parading gifts in schools closely associated with their countries. What they are doing is investing in the minds of our young for a future unshakable allegiance, not to Tanzania of course. As it is, pupils end up knowing foreign things better that they know about Tanzania!

So while there has to be some freedom to run private schools, I believe boundaries need to be defined. Like registering a school to make sure it complies with laid down procedures. Government should, for example restrain people like Osama bin Laden from opening and running schools in Tanzania for obvious reasons.

IMHO, I believe the boundaries in which the International Schools have to operate are not defined well enough. Like what is taught in those schools.

Finally, these are "my children", and then they are "Tanzanian children" and honestly we should have both on board before they become world children! If well prepared, I think they will be able to serve the interests of the former two better.

 

[MzalendoHalisi]

Mtukwao, Augustine-Moshi,

1. Do children belong to the parents or government? In Northern Nigeria because of parents religious beliefs- children are refused vaccination- as a result they get polio and become disabled! Is disability a burden of parents or society at large?

2. On matters concerning societal benefits- governments must intervene even if by force so that children can have a better future.

3. In my opinion- Sita intervention- should have been made long time ago

 

[MtuKwao]

Mzalendohalisi..

Children belong to their parents, up to a point; and to government, or society to which the parents and children belong, up to a point. So they belong to both.

But all, parents and children, belong to the society, as represented by government. You are therefore right, that sometimes, if not in most cases, the interests of the society takes the upper hand. So you are right, government needs to intervene when necessary. And you are also right, Sita intervention have been delayed!

 

[Masatu]

Huyu Mama anavuta shuka wakati kumeshakuchwa!