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Mbunge kumwaga vitabu 5,000 Geita


Mbunge wa Viti Maalum (CCM), Vicky Kamata

Mbunge wa Viti Maalum (CCM), Vicky Kamata,anatarajiwa kugawa vitabu 5,000 vya masomo ya Sayansi, Kiingereza na Hesabu kwa shule mbalimbali za Kata za Mkoa wa Geita kwa lengo la kuendeleza elimu.
Akizungumza na NIPASHE mwishoni mwa wiki, Kamata alisema mkoa huo una zaidi ya shule za kata 100 na baadhi yake zitanufaika na vitabu hivyo vya masomo ya ziada.

“Vitabu hivyo nitavigawa katika shule za kata za mkoa mpya wa Geita ambao unakabiliwa na changamoto nyingi kama vifaa vya kufundishia, maabara na mabweni kwa kuanzia nimeanza na vitabu 5,000 nilivyovipata kwa juhudi zangu,” alisema.

Alisema kupitia nafasi yake ya ubunge, ataendelea kuipigia serikali kelele ili shule hizo zipate vifaa mbalimbali vinavyohitajika ili kuboresha elimu mkoani humo.

Aidha, alisema mbali na kugawa vitabu hivyo, pia atagawa vyandarua, mablanketi na baiskeli kwa watu wenye ulemavu ambazo amezipata kupitia   marafiki wa taasisi yake ya Victoria.

The 1,464 days which created exams fiasco

 NECTA Executive Secretary Dr Joyce Ndalichako.

As Tanzanians, especially parents whose children were allegedly failed by the new grading system, celebrate what transpired on Friday, data from the National Examinations Council of Tanzania (NECTA) shows that nearly half of the students who sat for Form Four national exams between 2009 and 2012 scored division zero.

The revelation comes amid mixed reactions from some of the lawmakers in Dodoma who said the decision to nullify the results has been taken to hide the  truth on the state of education in the country.


According to data analyzed by The Guardian on Sunday, between 2009 and 2012, 1,294,230 students sat for the Form Four National exams, but 590,686 or about half of them scored Division zero. 


The data, which are in the public domain paint a gloomy picture about the education system in the country, contrary to what many have been made to believe that the mass failures were mainly caused by the introduction of the new grading system called Fixed Grade Ranges (FGR) introduced by NECTA for the first time last year.

Announcing the government decision to nullify results in Parliament, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Coordination and Parliamentary Affairs) William Lukuvi said, the committee formed by the Prime Minister to investigate the reasons behind such massive failures learnt that NECTA used a new system called Fixed Grade Ranges (FGR) in grading students’ performance.


The government announcement came only four days after the inquiry committee led by Prof Sifuni Mchome tabled its preliminary report of findings to the cabinet in Dodoma.

But, according to the data, the mass failures were a time bomb that started in 2010, which subsequently exploded in 2012, causing a public outcry.


For instance, between 2009 and 2010, the number of Form Four students who scored zero Division rose dramatically by 265 percent, reaching 174,407 -- up from 65,708 recorded in the previous year.


In 2009, some 238,581 students sat for the Form Four National examination, and 65,708 or 26.46 percent of them scored zero Division.


But in 2010, 174,407 students or 50 percent from a total 351,598 students who sat for the National examination scored zero Division.


While the number of Form Four students who sat for national exams in 2010 grew by 113,017 or 47 percent to reach 351, 598 -- up from 238, 581 recorded in 2009 -- those who scored division zero increased by a whopping 265 percent, reaching 174,407 students.


But there was peace. There wasn’t any big fuss or resignation calls from the opposition leaders, despite the fact that the 2010 results were a serious scourge to a country that plans to achieve Vision 2025.


Between 2009 and 2011, NECTA used the traditional system to grade the final results for Form Four exams.


According to in-depth analysis of the NECTA’s data conducted by the Guardian on Sunday between 2009 and 2012 the average of those who scored zero Division was 45.64 percent.


The average of those who scored first Division was 1.2 percent, the lowest in our history compared to the massive increment of students, schools and budget allocated to the Ministry of Education and Vocational Trainings.


Giving statistics in the Parliament on Friday, Minister Lukuvi said from 1961 to 2001 the number of primary school pupils increased from 486,470 to 4,875,764; but for the period between 2001 and 2012 the number of primary school pupils increased from 4,875,764 to 8,247,472.


 Secondary school students also increased from 11,832 during independence (1961) to 289,699 in 2001 but the country experienced a drastic increase from 289,699 students in 2001 to 1,884,270 in 2012.

Minister Lukuvi attributed such a drastic increase of pupils and students in schools to various educational programmes implemented by the government such as Primary Educational Development Programme (PEDP) and Secondary Educational Development Programme (SEDP).


But one thing that didn’t match with such huge increase was quality of education and the number of skilled teachers required for both primary and secondary schools in the country.


On top of this was lack of teaching materials especially in the mushroomed Ward’s secondary schools, casting a bleak future to the country’s education system.


A senior official from NECTA who spoke under the conditions of anonymity citing the sensitivity of the matter said, “We may have erred in grading system, but the problem is bigger than what you are told…NECTA is just one part of the story.


 Efforts to get the reactions from NECTA’s Executive Secretary Dr Joyce Ndalichako failed after her phone kept ringing almost the whole day without being answered.

Meanwhile a day after the government nullified the Form Four results for all students who sat for the national examination last year, Nominated MP James Mbatia has rubbished the move as an attempt to “hide the  truth” about the state of education in the country.


Speaking in Dodoma during the morning Bunge session yesterday, Mbatia -- who has been vocal against the country’s deteriorating state of education -- said the decision was aimed at  satisfying students, parents, teachers and other educational stakeholders that a huge number of students had passed the exam while the quality remained appalling.


He said the prime reason given by the taskforce of inquiry that the massive failures resulted from changes in the grading system was simply a scapegoat. He said by asking the National Examination Council of Tanzania ( NECTA) to grade the examination results using the traditional National Mean Difference (NMD) the government was seeking quantity instead of quality.

He said the only way to find a lasting solution to the ailing education system was to form a commission that would investigate the matter and come up with recommendations on how to save the nation, arguing that placing the burden on NECTA would not help resolve the problems because the education crisis was a result of a number of factors, including absence of an explicit education curriculum and poor educational environment.


He urged the government to accept the problem and throw its weight behind efforts aimed at seeking solutions instead of jumping into conclusions that do not help.


The legislator also said that politicians should desist from making decisions on technical matters.  However, he said “something fishy” could have occurred at NECTA and the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training over the former’s decision to use the new system – Fixed Grade Ranges ( FGR) in grading students’ performance. Mbatia said MPs should join hands and press for the formation of  a special commission or parliamentary select committee to investigate the problem and come up with workable solutions.


Deputy Energy and Minerals Minister George Simbachawene supported the government’s decision, saying it would restore justice to the students.  


 He said under it would be unfair – under normal circumstances -- to prepare a new grading system about a month before the examination date while knowing that students were not prepared to be examined under such a new grading system.

Citing an example of whatb he described as an unfair grading system, Simbachawene said while the pass mark ‘F’ for a subject has always ranged between 0 zero and 20, NECTA ranged it between 0-34 in last year’s examination.


While pass mark ‘D’ in previous years was ranged between 21 and 40, the examining body last year slotted it at between 34 and 39. 


While ‘C’ was ranged between 41 and 60 in previous years, NECTA placed it at between 50 and 64 last year. 

Pass mark ‘B’ has always been ranged at between 65 and 80 but in last year’s examination the same pass mark was ranged at between 65 and 84; and pass mark ‘A’ in previous years was pegged at between 81 and 100 but in last year’s examination NECTA pegged it at between 85 and 100.

But, Kabwe Zuberi Zitto ( Chadema – Kigoma North) reacted thus: ‘ It is a disaster … this decision kills the nation … I oppose it vehemently.”
 
Chwaka MP Yahya Kassim Issah agreed, saying he wasn’t comfortable with the government’s decision to nullify the results -- because the move aimed at making even those who failed seem to have passed the examination. 


However, he congratulated NECTA for coming up with a strict measurement of students’ performance, adding that the best way was to deal with the real cause of mass failures.
 


YALIYOJIRI MAGAZETINI

JUMATATU, MEI 6, 2013



Education mess: What of taproot?

The government has declared its position: the results of last year’s National Form Four examinations, which had seen an unprecedented 60 per cent of the candidates fail, must be reformulated.

Fine, at least in that deciding one way or the other often points to more responsible leadership than does inaction, even if the take for most people may be that it is too little, too late. And we too feel compelled to make our views known.


A minister of state in the Prime Minister’s announced the government’s decision in the National Assembly at the weekend, saying it was based on a preliminary report by a committee formed by Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda to investigate the circumstances of the debacle.


The minister said the committee attributed the poor results to unfair grading of pupils’ performance by the National Examination Council of Tanzania (Necta) and proposed inclusion of new standardisation of the results to reflect the efforts candidates had invested in their studies. Rather tricky!


He said the Cabinet subscribed to the committee’s recommendations wholesale, directing that they should be implemented immediately.


But the reading of the public reaction is that the move is focused on responding to the short-term shock following the release of the results and the stream of questions since made. 


Many have suggested that the government’s move leaves in place a lot of the rot that has plagued the education sector.

This step will doubtless help to restore a modicum of confidence in our education system, uplifting the spirits of the many candidates who will now move up the ladder and thus likely qualify for the studies or professional training they had been shut out of.


But as noted by some observers, Necta’s revelations on how some of the candidates answered the examination questions points to a more serious problem that must exercise our minds more fully.


President Jakaya Kikwete has a lead on this. He was last week quoted as calling for approval of the new education policy to allow implementation of further steps to reverse the deterioration in the education sector.

 
The country is burdened by the huge increase in the number of people enrolling for primary and secondary school education not being matched by an increase in the number of teachers.

 
From 1961 to 2001 the number of primary school pupils rose from 486,470 to 4,875,764, while for the period between 2001 and 2012 it jumped from 4,875,764 to 8,247,472. The number of secondary school students also rose from 11,832 at independence in 1961 to 289,699 in 2001, and from 289,699 in 2001 to 1,884,270 students last year.


How the environment could remain conducive despite these developments is hard to imagine, and it surely calls for resources which we all concede may not be immediately available.


The government should therefore heed calls by stakeholders that it critically assess the relevance of what is taught – that is, if we really want to come up with human resources that can meaningfully push forward the nation’s development agenda.


It is however important that any discussion of the issue avoid partisan interests and reflect only on national interests, including the need to consolidate our capacity to progress as a nation. 


CHANZO: THE GUARDIAN

Matokeo kidato cha nne 2012 yafutwa


Waziri wa Nchi, Ofisi ya Waziri Mkuu (Sera, Uratibu na Bunge), William Lukuvi, akiwasilisha kauli ya serikali Bungeni Dodoma jana kuhusu taarifa ya awali ya Tume ya Taifa ya kuchunguza matokeo ya mtihani wa taifa wa Kidato cha nne wa mwaka 2012. 


Dodoma/Dar. Serikali imechukua uamuzi mgumu na kuamua kuwafariji wanafunzi waliofeli mitihani ya kuhitimu kidato cha nne mwaka 2012 baada ya kufuta matokeo hayo na kuamua yaandaliwe upya kwa kutumia utaratibu uliotumika mwaka 2011.

Uamuzi huo wa Serikali umetokana na matokeo mabaya ya mitihani huo yaliyosababisha zaidi ya asilimia 60 ya wanafunzi kupata sifuri.

Kutokana na matokeo hayo, Serikali iliunda Tume inayoongozwa na Profesa Sifuni Mchome kuchunguza matokeo hayo ili kupata ufumbuzi wa kudumu.

Muda mfupi baada ya tamko la Serikali, baadhi ya wadau wa elimu wameeleza kufurahishwa na uamuzi huo, huku Chama cha Walimu Tanzania (CWT) kikiikosoa hatua hiyo, kuwa imekiuka sheria na kupora madaraka ya Baraza la Mitihani Tanzania (Necta).

Akitoa kauli ya Serikali bungeni kuhusu taarifa ya awali ya Tume ya Taifa ya Kuchunguza Matokeo ya Mtihani wa Taifa Kidato cha nne mwaka 2012 jana, Waziri wa Nchi, Ofisi ya Waziri Mkuu (Uratibu na Bunge), William Lukuvi alisema wameagiza Necta kuweka viwango ili matokeo ya wanafunzi yalingane na juhudi zao.

“Standardization ifanyike ili matokeo ya wanafunzi yalingane na juhudi wazizoziweka katika kusoma kwa mazingira, hali halisi ya Tanzania na uamuzi wa taifa kuongeza idadi ya shule na wanafunzi wakati uwekezaji katika ubora unaendelea,” alisema Lukuvi.

Lukuvi alisema Necta imeelekezwa kuwa licha ya sheria ya kuanzishwa kwake kuruhusu kufanya marekebisho ya mchakato wa mtihani, marekebisho yoyote ya kubadilisha utaratibu wa kupanga viwango vya ufaulu na madaraja ya mitihani yanatakiwa yahusishe wadau wote wanaohusika na mitalaa, ufundishaji na mtihani.

“Wakati Tume inaendelea kukamilisha kazi yake, uamuzi wa Necta kutumia utaratibu mpya wa kupanga viwango vya ufaulu na madaraja ya matokeo ya mitihani uliotumika 2012 usitishwe,” alisema Lukuvi na kuongeza:

“Badala yake Necta itumie utaratibu uliotumika mwaka 2011 kwa kidato cha nne na sita kwa mitihani yote, ikiwamo utaratibu wa Standardization na kutoa matokeo mapya kwa kuzingatia maelekezo haya.”

Pia, Serikalli imeagiza mchakato wa tuzo wa taifa (National Qualifications Framework) na Mfumo wa Kutahiniwa/ kuthamini maendeleo ya mwanafunzi masomo yake (National Assessment Framework) ukamilishwe haraka iwezekanavyo.

Katika mtihani wa mwaka 2012, wanafunzi 367,756 walifanya mtihani huo na waliofaulu ni 126,847. Waliofaulu kwa kwa madaraja ya kwanza hadi la tatu ni 23,520 sawa na asilimia 6.4 na daraja la nne ni 103,327 sawa na asilimia 28.1, huku 240,909 ambao ni asilimia 65.5 wakipata daraja sifuri.

YALIYOJIRI MAGAZETINI

JUMAMOSI, MEI 4, 2013


600 suspended university students readmitted

 The Deputy Minister for Education and Vocational Training, Mr Philip Mulugo

MORE than 600 students of higher learning institutions involved in the 2011/12 chaos at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), University of Dodoma (UDOM) and the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Science (MUHAS) have been allowed to resume classes.

Responding to a question from Mr John Mnyika (Ubungo-Chadema) , the Deputy Minister for Education and Vocational Training, Mr Philip Mulugo, said out of 99 students found to have been involved in UDSM chaos, 78 resumed studies and 21 students are still under suspension.

At UDOM, Mr Mulugo said 570 students were involved in the chaos, and after investigations, 563 were allowed to resume studies and 7 students were expelled.

At MUHAS, 115 students were involved in the fracas, out of whom 81 students received a stern warning, 24 students were suspended for a period of one year and resumed studies last December and 8 other students were suspended for two years and will resume studies in December this year.

The Deputy minister explained that recommendation from the commission appointed by the president in 2011 to look into the strikes, has to a large extent helped reduce strikes in high learning institutions.

Mr Mulugo added that the recommendations from the Presidential Commission also led to the establishment of the Online Loan Application System (OLAS) by the High Learning Loans Board and for the Commission of Universities to establish the Central Admission System (CAS).

The two systems have helped address a number of challenges, the deputy minister  noted, including transparency and enabled availability of data on high learning students enrollment and those that have received loans from the High Learning Loans Board.


Mr Mnyika wanted to know steps taken by the government to have students suspended from the three Universities resume studies and how the president's commission has helped improve and provide sustainable solution to problems facing high learning institutions.

Mr Mulugo also warned politicians who have a tendency of instigating higher learning students to go on strike and cause chaos in the colleges and universities. He said the government will not tolerate such politicians, and students who will be found to be engaged in such chaos will be suspended.

Mr Mnyika expressed his dissatisfaction with the deputy minister's answers to the National Assembly Chairperson, Ms Jenister Mhagama and sought the House to have the ministry table in parliament the report from the Presidential Commission.

Ms Mhagama told the Ubungo legislature to either present a private motion of the matter or bring the question to parliament again. She also asked the government to find the best way to present in parliament the report from President's Commission.


YALIYOJIRI MAGAZETINI

IJUMAA, MEI 3, 2013




ARC calls for research into exam mass failure

Mwanza Regional Commissioner Evarist Ndikilo

Mwanza Regional Commissioner Evarist Ndikilo yesterday urged education stakeholders to investigate the mass failure in Standard VII and Form IV national examinations instead of coercing the resignation of the responsible minister.

He made the call here when opening a meeting of education stakeholders being held at the City Conference hall.


He said of late there has been a decline of pass rates in Standard VII and Form IV national examination results in the region.


According to Ndikilo, the pass rate for secondary education has fallen from 61 per cent in 2010 to 38 per cent in 2012 while for primary school has dwindled from 51 per cent in 2010 to 31 per cent in 2012.


“This is not healthy to the region and the nation at large. Stakeholders should conduct research to find out the causes of the problem and suggest solutions,” he said.


He mentioned some of the reasons for the mass failure in Standard VII and Form IV final examinations as low pay to teachers, poor working conditions and uncommitted teachers.


Other reasons include lack of leadership skills to some heads of schools, inadequate teachers for science and mathematics and interference by politicians in matters concerning academic affairs.


Ndikilo said to improve educational standard, there is a need to start school feeding programmes and mobilise parents and guardians to contribute to the education of their children.


Mwanza Regional Education Officer Hamis Maulid said although there has been an increase of candidates each year, the pass rate has been declining.


He called on the stakeholders to assist government find a lasting solution to the problem

YALIYOJIRI MAGAZETINI

ALHAMISI, MEI 2, 2013



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