THE University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) is undergoing mega-infrastructural transformations that include construction of state-of-the-art modern library to accommodate over 800,000 books to be more globally competitive
Doubling as a public library and
resource centre, the library will have the capacity to host 6,000
people, a conference room and Confucius Centre that can accommodate
2,100 and 500 people respectively. The project is financed by China at a
grant of 40 million US dollars (about 90bn/-).
Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony
also attended by the University Chancellor, former President Jakaya
Kikwete, President John Magufuli said UDSM, which has a global history,
aims at remaining the leading higher learning institution.
Dr Magufuli earned his Bachelor of
Science in Education Degree, majoring in chemistry and mathematics as
teaching subjects in 1988. He also earned his master’s and doctorate
degrees in chemistry in 1994 and 2009, respectively.
“I understand all the challenges and
problems faced by both students and the university. I have been here and
you voted me to become your president so I can address these
challenges,” he said when he took the podium at the university’s
playgrounds.
The country’s oldest university and home
to over 20,000 students have endured deprived infrastructures built in
the mid-1960s and early 1970s. Water and sewerage systems do not work
effectively any longer while roads and dormitories are in pathetic
conditions.
President Magufuli announced a 10bn/-
support to help improve students’ hostels, but urged social security
schemes also to consider investing at the university where there is a
huge demand for residential accommodation.
The decision by the president followed a
concern raised by the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rwekaza
Mukandala, and the chancellor, Mr Kikwete -- that the institution is in
critical demand of students’ hostels. “Only 30pc of our students have
secured hostels, with the available hostels being in dilapidated
condition.
The university’s admission has jumped
from the first 14 students to 7,000 students, necessitating renovation
and investment in infrastructures,” Mr Kikwete told the president.
He added that staff quarters for the
lecturers were also in bad condition, adding that some institutions had
adopted the 4G technology; the university still applied analogue
technology.
The chancellor asked the president to
immediately reconsider addressing the challenges faced by the university
for it to retain its position at global level. Already, he said, the
university had established special schools of Health; and Science and
Agriculture.
The demand for improving infrastructure at the institution is projected at 42bn/-, according to the former president.
In addition, Prof Mukandala noted that
about 600 lecturers at the university needed government support to
further their knowledge. He went on to explain that the construction of
the library will help improve academic quality at the institution.
The Minister for Education, Science,
Technology and Vocational Training, Professor Joyce Ndalichako, on her
part acknowledged the government’s commitment to support the
construction of the library, saying it was a top priority towards the
country’s industrial economy process.
Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania, Dr Lu
Youqing, expressed his country’s continued support to Tanzania, saying
the two countries have been friends for over 50 years.
He announced that a Chinese firm, Jiansi
Jiangdu Construction Group Company Limited, will collaborate with the
government and the university administration to complete the project in
time.
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