Lack of a moderator for movies has been cited as one of the factors contributing to moral erosion among children in the country.

The observation was made over the weekend by a senior reporter with Habari Leo newspaper Beda Msimbe during a Training of Trainers’ workshop on reporting children’s issues organised by the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT).

He said unlike other countries where movies were rated according to age groups, there was no one in the country overseeing the rating, leaving children to watch whatever was available in the market.

“We ought to learn how to minimise the harm because our children learn and assimilate things at the highest level. Raising a child is more than catering for food and a good housing. Rather it has to do with the upbringing,” said Msimbe.

Msimbe said it was now common to sit in a bus and hear adverts over bedroom issues being broadcast at a time when children were very much awake or going to school saying something ought to be done to rectify the situation.

Meanwhile, media experts have raised concern over the increase in street children in the country.

A media expert from TBC Aisha Dachi said the number of street children in the country has been growing, wondering whether those responsible were unaware of the situation.

Balinagwe Mwambungu, another media guru said land grabbing and failure to compensate its owners also contributed to the problem, affecting children as more often they failed to get a place to go to, saying something ought to done to change the situation.

The session facilitator James Malenga said the increase of street children meant that something was very wrong in the system, calling on Tanzanians to check where they had gone wrong.

MCT has drawn up the media guidelines on reporting children’s issues in a bid to deal with challenges facing media practitioners.

In its guidelines, the MCT says children need special care and protection due to their vulnerability, saying it is through reporting that the media can influence and remind policy makers and the public that children are human beings who deserve recognition, dignity, respect and above all, protection.