29bn/- paid to 31,000 civil servants in arrears, says PM

DAILY NEWS Reporter in Makete

Prime Minister, Mr Kassim Majaliwa

THE Prime Minister, Mr Kassim Majaliwa, has said the government has paid arrears amounting to 29bn/-to about 31,000 public servants, including teachers, as of last November, insisting it is determined to clear all debts to the civil servants soon.

The Premier made the promise here while unveiling three classrooms at Iwawa Secondary School, also pointing out that the government will ensure that there are no new debts from public servants. Mr Majaliwa, who is on official tour here, said the government will ensure no new debt by public servants, urging them to continue supporting the government.

He noted that the government has improved the education sector, adding that the Fifth Phase Government will continue to create better teaching and learning conditions. “We have started a project to put up modern teachers’ houses in the districts. We have earmarked a budget of 557 million/- for the project in Makete,” said the Premier.

According to Mr Majaliwa, the project aims at addressing the problem of teachers’ houses, largely in rural areas, pledging that the government will ensure that every Tanzanian gets access to education to promote the social-economic development.

“As the government is determined to provide better education to every Tanzanian, district councils should ensure that every primary school has a kindergarten class,” he directed.

The Iwawa Secondary School Headmaster, Mr Novatus Msiyala, expressed gratitude to the government for financing construction of the three classrooms, 10 latrines and putting up water infrastructure at his school.

He said the project of three classrooms worth 95m/- would help to unravel the problem of congestion in classrooms at the school, adding that the government and residents of Makete were currently continuing to finalise construction of the two remaining classrooms and staff room.

In a new development, the prime minister has handed over a laptop to a student at the Ruvuma Campus of Saint Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT), Ally Alijai, which he had promised him during his visit in the region earlier this month.

Mr Majaliwa promised to provide him with a laptop to facilitate his studies, including his talent to write books. Mr Majaliwa said the Tanzania Institute of Education (TIE) was assessing one of his books to establish if it could be used in schools. The university student expressed gratitude to the prime minister for the gift, promising to write more books.