The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women, and Special Groups, Dr. John Jingu, has urged professionals in Early Childhood Development and Care to embrace digital technology as a means of addressing challenges in parenting and enhancing the science of childcare.
Dr. Jingu made the remarks while officially opening the National Conference on Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD), currently taking place in Mwanza.
He highlighted a growing generational gap in parenting styles and approaches to early childhood development, emphasizing that strategic use of technology could help bridge this divide and offer innovative solutions to the country’s parenting challenges.
"Who we are today is largely shaped by the upbringing we received from our parents. It is therefore our responsibility to pass on strong, value-based parenting to our children, in order to nurture a moral and resilient nation," Dr. Jingu said.
He further pointed out that in today’s digital era, professionals in the childcare and development sector should capitalize on advancements in science and technology to expand access to parenting education across communities.
“We can establish online forums for parents to discuss parenting issues and share solutions to common challenges. Additionally, we can create child-friendly digital platforms that provide educational content, entertainment, and games that promote our cultural values,” Dr. Jingu emphasized.
Also speaking at the event, Mwanza Regional Administrative Secretary Baladya Elikana underscored the importance of quality parenting in shaping a society built on integrity and national pride.
"This conference provides a critical opportunity to evaluate the implementation of parenting programs within our communities and find practical solutions to ongoing challenges. Let’s use this platform to drive meaningful improvements in how we care for and raise our children,” Elikana said.
The ECCD conference is part of the national commemoration of the International Day of Families, observed globally on May 15 each year.
The event brings together parenting experts, social welfare officers, community development officers, NGO representatives providing child services, and researchers from academic institutions, including Ifakara Health Institute, the Institute of Social Work, and the University of Dodoma.