Ministry, UK partner in bid to improve Tanzania's education

BY MALELA KASSIM


Prof Sifuni Mchome
An ‘Education quality improvement programme’ will be launched early next year in a joint venture by the Education and Vocational Training Ministry in collaboration with the Department for International Development (DfID) from the United Kingdom.

According to the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Prof Sifuni Mchome, the programme is going to focus mainly on the regions that performed the worst in their standard seven examinations in recent years these include but are not limited to Dodoma, Kigoma, Shinyanga, Simiyu, Tabora, Mara and Lindi.

“The first phase of the programme is going to benefit five regions of Dodoma, Kigoma, Shinyanga, Simiyu and Tabora during the 2014 year… more regions will be reached in the following year,’’ said Mchome in his report released over the weekend

The five regions have a total of 36 districts with more than 4000 primary schools whose coverage will be monitored through a partnership between the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (VETA) and the Local Government.

"We start with these few regions that performed the worst in their standard seven results... the programme will ensure that the quality of education is improved and ultimately increase students enrollment into secondary schools,’’ he noted.
The programme will also provide training for teachers aimed at capacity building to increase their efficiency.

“It will also develop strategies for the management and operation of the school, strengthening systems and assist with the management of education programmes in the districts and regions…it will strengthen the participation of the community and encourage accountability in the education sector,’’ he said.

Recently, the government offered a capacity building training in school administration and management to more than 3000 heads of schools including those from secondary schools and primary schools but not in the said regions.

The training was conducted by the Agency for the Development of Educational Management (ADEM) at various training stations in Njombe, Magu, Bagamoyo and Arusha between September 23 and October 9, this year.

“We are absolutely committed to raising standards, performance and attainment. This is a mission in which everyone will play part. Make no mistake, my Ministry will stop at nothing to drive improvements throughout the education system,’’ said Dr Shukuru Kawambwa, Minister for Education and Vocational Training.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN