Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Tanzania: PM invites proposals on education policy

ANNE ROBI
Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa
EDUCATIONAL experts and stakeholders have been urged to air out their views and recommendations to help in reformation of current education policy and entire system.

The invited recommendations, according to the government, will help to install educational system for sustainable and inclusive industrial development in the country.
Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa made the call in Dar es Salaam yesterday while officiating at the Annual Convocation Symposium on “Tanzania Towards Industrialisation” under the theme: ‘Rethinking Education for Self-Reliance Policy.’
In a speech read on his behalf by Minister of State in the President’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government, Selemani Jafo, the premier said the government is prepared to receive and work on recommendations from the public and education stakeholders on the formation of self reliance education system.
He commended the symposium organisers, assuring the government commitment to take and execute all suggestions made during the deliberations.
“The government is ready to receive suggestions from experts, stakeholders and members of the general public on restructuring of our education system to march our current development goals to transform Tanzania into an industrial economy,” he said.
Mr Majaliwa said having an improved education system that matches the development goals is one of the initiatives that the government works on to ensure the nation achieves its economic goals by 2025.
He cited one of the initiatives as implementation of free education policy, 2016 that aims at ensuring equal opportunities in education delivery. Through the policy, the government disburses 20.7b/- monthly for education in the country.
Speaking at the two-day convocation, Judge Joseph Warioba underscored the need for a wide discussion on how to come up with a better education system and policies for a better future.
He said the current system do not satisfy the needs of the nation, calling for serious reflection on the state of education. Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam Prof Rwekaza Mukandala described education for self reliance as ideal for the nation towards achieving the educational goals for the current situation.
He said education system ought to ensure equal opportunities to all Tanzanians in acquiring education, especially at this time when the nation is gearing into acquiring sustainable industrial development.
Executive Director of HakiElimu John Kalage said the nation ought to rethink on whether education system supports learners to achieve personal and national ambitions for national economic growth.
The symposium comes amid increasing demand for serious reflection on the state of education. According to the experts, the demand comes from rising discontent with the overall performance of formal education at all levels.
Critics decry lack of clarity on the aims and purposes of education in the present context, in contrast to the shared philosophy and ideology of ‘Education for Self-Reliance’ in the past.

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