‘Universities in need of more state support’

LUDOVICK KAZOKA

President John Magufuli.

THE government is determined to support higher learning institutions to produce more scientists to prop up industries if the country is to attain its national vision 2025, which is geared towards transforming Tanzania from a developing to a middle income country.

Addressing the 50th anniversary celebrations of the College of Natural and Applied Sciences of the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) in the city, President John Magufuli, said the government will also provide universities with support to conduct researches.

“The fifth phase government will provide higher learning institutions with support to carry out researches with the goal of addressing the challenges that afflict society,” said the head of state in a speech read on his behalf by the Minister for Education, Science, Technology and Vocational Training, Prof Joyce Ndalichako.

Dr Magufuli pointed out that the higher learning institutions were in a position to play a key role for the country to attain the national vision and that the higher learning institutions should address the challenges in different sectors.

UDSM Vice-Chancellor, Prof Rwekaza Mukandala, said the capacity to produce more scientists and good research outputs is limited by a number of factors. He pointed out that the most prominent factor is inadequacy of the current teaching and research infrastructure at the university and shortage of research funds.

“The university certainly needs to be more innovative and proactive in addressing these constraints, but more cooperation and support from the government and other stakeholders are equally crucial,” said the UDSM Vice-Chancellor.

Prof Mukandala said the scientists at the university are engaged in both science education and creation of new scientific knowledge. He added that the university has played a key role in two areas.

“It would be our duty and pride to contribute to national development as universities in other formerly poor countries have done in recent decades,” he observed.

Prof Mukandala said only South Africa, Uganda and Malawi spend above 1 per cent of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on research and experimental development.

He also pointed out that he was optimistic that the government would soon enter this list of few countries in Africa to commit at least 1 per cent of its GDP.