Samia asserts patriotism

• Underlines proper upbringing

DAR ES SALAAM: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has emphasised on the significance of the government, parents and guardians imparting education on the relevant history to children, particularly of their country in order to cultivate patriotism from childhood.

President Samia said the government in collaboration with parents and community will ensure children acquire good and proper upbringing.

Engaging children at the State House in Dar es Salaam on Sunday as part of activities to mark the African Child Day, Dr Samia said good and proper parenting was critical in nurturing well manned and patriotic citizens.

She said child security is the responsibility of the whole community rather than leaving the burden to parents or guardians alone.

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“The government will keep on cooperating with parents and society at large, to provide children with a history which echoes on necessities for being patriotic,” she said.

Dr Samia in her remarkable observance of the International Day of the African Child celebrated annually on June 16th said it should feature lovely mother care and patriotism spirit to children as well as teaching them drawing skills, where in particular she assigned them to draw the national flag.

At the occasion that can be termed as deliberate efforts to nurture younger leaders by imparting them with proper education on the national values, the Head of State spared ample time to train the children and guided them through a tour of the State House.

She also informed the children on the primary role of the State House, saying it is a country’s top office destined for the president.

With motherly hugs and greetings to the children, the president asked them.

“Ok tell me, where are you at the State House or Posta? ” Unanimously, the children replied that they were at the State House where Mama Samia lives. Dr Samia corrected them by saying that the State House is destined for the Head of State.

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Finally, she welcomed the children in her office to view how it looks like. Later on, the children had the chance to swing and play with balloons at special facilities prepared at the State House’s compound.

The International Day of the African Child was introduced in 1991 by the then Organisation of Africa Unity (OAU), now the Africa Union (AU) in honour of the profound contributions made by the children in Soweto Street of Johannesburg, South Africa in 1976 through demonstration, when they demanded for quality education taught using their language.

At that time, the students marched protesting the poor-quality education they received from the white minority. During the protest hundreds of school children were shot and killed. Sadly, more than a hundred people were killed in the protests in the following two weeks, and more than a thousand were injured.

The Day of the African Child also serves to celebrate children of Africa as well as inspire a sober reflection and action towards addressing the challenges that children in Africa face on daily basis.