By Hazla Omar in Arusha
TURKISH Ambassador
to Tanzania Al Davutoglu has unveiled a new chapter of cooperation
between the two countries by promising a big boost to
a local education
centre in 2020.
Ambassador Al
Davutoglu disclosed new developments in Ngaramtoni during a ceremony at
the weekend in which a nonprofit organisation, Turkish Maarif Foundation
(TMF), took over the management of primary and secondary schools,
previously operated by SOS Children Villages of Tanzania.
"Through assisting
the education sector, Turkey intends to become a major partner with
Tanzania towards the country's goal of becoming a middle-income economy
by 2025," said the envoy, adding that TMF was a global education brand
running 372 schools in 47 countries, mostly in Africa.
TMF operates
education facilities covering preschool, kindergarten, lower and upper
primary, as well as secondary schools all the way to high school level.
Dr Mary Nagu is the
board chairperson of SOS Children Villages. "We have been running these
schools for years, but it is now time to place them under TMF because
being a non-profit organisation, they can guarantee quality education
with humanitarian support to pupils and students," she noted.
Head of SOS Minor
School Heri Abubakar said SOS Children Villages would rather concentrate
on taking care of homeless children, orphans and those living in
difficult situations and leave the responsibilities of running education
facilities to other organisations well-equipped and suitable for the
task.
SOS Schools of
Arusha so far have 320 pupils and students, but now under new
management, starting 2020, the facilities intend to increase the number
of students to reach 1,000 or more.
Arumeru District
Education Officer (Health and Nutrition) Grace Massawe said they were
hopeful that TMF would improve SOS School facilities as promised.
"They plan to
increase classrooms, build dormitories and laboratories as well as
providing computers and other basic necessities," she added.
Despite now running under the Turkish organisation, SOS Schools of Ngaramtoni in Arusha will maintain the approved standard.
SOS Children Villages have been serving Tanzanian homeless children for over 20 years now.
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