Despite the Tanzanian government’s introduction of guidelines in 2022 for establishing and operating Early Screening, Referral and Assessment Centres (ESRACs), implementation remains limited, leaving thousands of children without access to critical early identification services that could significantly improve their educational outcomes.
The concern was raised during the launch of a National Campaign for the Establishment and Strengthening of ESRACs held at Mwenge Primary School in Mbeya Region on June 3.
The campaign, organized by HakiElimu in partnership with Child Support Tanzania (CST), aims to encourage local government authorities and the central government to invest more resources in early identification services for children facing learning and developmental challenges.
Speaking at the event, HakiElimu Executive Director Mary Ndaro emphasized that early identification is a cornerstone of inclusive and equitable education. However, she noted that implementation of the government’s ESRAC guidelines has fallen far short of expectations.
“Many children experience learning difficulties that go undetected at an early stage. Without proper assessment, a child may be wrongly perceived as incapable or lazy when, in reality, they require specialized teaching approaches,” Ndaro said.
She added that delayed identification not only affects children’s academic progress but also has psychological consequences, while making it more difficult for teachers to effectively support students with diverse learning needs.
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Statistics presented during the launch revealed a worrying situation. Out of 184 local government councils across the country, only 36 currently have ESRAC centres. Of those, 34 fail to meet the standards required to provide comprehensive services, leaving only two centres operating at acceptable levels. As a result, 148 councils remain without functioning ESRAC facilities.
According to the 2022 government guidelines, ESRACs were established to bring screening and assessment services closer to communities, enabling children to receive timely support without having to travel long distances to regional or national referral centres.
Child Support Tanzania Executive Director Noelah Msuya Shawa highlighted the importance of early assessment in helping teachers and specialists understand the specific needs of individual children and provide appropriate classroom support.
She cited dyscalculia, a learning disability that affects a child’s ability to understand and work with numbers, as an example of a condition that is often misunderstood.
“I am among those who grew up without being assessed,” said Shawa, “too often, children who struggle with mathematics are labelled as unintelligent, when in fact they need specialized teaching methods,” Shawa said.
At Mwenge Primary School, Head Teacher Agnes Asalile Mwakaje reported that the school currently serves 115 students with special educational needs, including 75 boys and 40 girls, through its ESRAC facility.
She explained that the centre employs three specialists who provide services in hearing assessment, cognitive evaluation, and support for children with visual impairments, including those who are blind.
Parents have also experienced the benefits of early identification services. Angela Charles, whose child has mental disability, said she previously did not understand the cause of her child’s challenges.
“My child has special needs related to emntal disability. Before the assessment, I did not understand what was affecting him. After receiving a diagnosis, I was guided on how to support him and referred to this school. I am very happy because he is now making good progress and can even walk,” she said.
The campaign launch was attended by government officials and education stakeholders. The guest of honour was representative of Mbeya Regional Commissioner, Brigadier General Salum Hassan Sulumbu, who stressed the need to strengthen early assessment services to ensure that all children enjoy equal access to education.
Education stakeholders said the success of the few existing ESRAC centres demonstrates the potential for expanding such services nationwide if sufficient investment and collaboration are secured among the government, local authorities, and development partners.
However, the large implementation gap continues to raise questions about the pace at which the government is working to ensure that every child has the opportunity to be identified early and receive the support they need before learning and developmental challenges become more severe.
Jesca Samwel John is a journalist for The Chanzo based in Dar es Salaam.
