DODOMA: THE Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Culture and Sports has called for stronger moral education through schools, families and communities, emphasising the need to nurture responsible children while preserving Tanzania’s cultural values.
The committee made the call after receiving a ministry report on moral values presented by Permanent Secretary and Government Chief Spokesperson, Gerson Msigwa, in Dodoma, with discussions focusing on the role of education in shaping children’s behaviour from an early age.
Msigwa said the education system should help establish a strong foundation for children by incorporating moral education into the curriculum, particularly at primary school level.
He said early learning about responsibility, respect and acceptable behaviour would help children develop positive values and understand their role in society.
The committee’s Vice-Chairperson, Colonel Magembe, stressed the need to review the ethics curriculum from primary school level to help children develop responsible behaviour and guard against corruption.
“The ministry should do everything possible to address the erosion of moral values by laying a strong foundation to protect children, particularly through the education curriculum from primary school level,” Magembe said.
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Former Deputy Prime Minister, Doto Biteko, said moral upbringing should begin at home, urging parents to take greater responsibility for guiding their children.
He noted that exposure to digital platforms, music, films and other forms of entertainment made parental guidance increasingly important in helping young people develop sound values.
“Parents have abandoned our traditional approaches to upbringing, leaving children without a strong ethical foundation. The ministry should work with the Ministry of Education to establish ethical guidelines from the early stages of learning,” Biteko said.