Minister of education and Vocational training,Dr Shukuru Kawambwa
Dar es Salaam. Form Four leavers who failed to
make the grade in last year’s controversial exams are heading to
overseas colleges en masse after being locked out of local public and
private high schools.
The unprecedented poor performance in last year’s
Fourth Form results have left unfilled 10,000 Form Five slots in public
high schools. Some private high schools have reportedly closed shop for
lack of students.
Only candidates scoring Division I to III can move on to Form Five and those at Division IV get a chance to resit the exams.
Only candidates scoring Division I to III can move on to Form Five and those at Division IV get a chance to resit the exams.
Instead of choosing the second option, though,
most parents have opted for colleges outside the country that enrol
students without too many hurdles in their way. This is a sign that the
middle class is growing, according to experts.
A Citizen survey established that many Form Four
leavers are rushing to apply for university places abroad as a shortcut
to realising their dreams, particularly those who are keen on science
courses such as medicine.
Mr Abdulmalik Mollel, Managing Director of Global
Education Link Ltd (GEL), said his agency was overwhelmed by the demand
for overseas universities. “We had to close down for about two days last
week so we could get time to work on the many applications we
received,” he said.
His agency netted a total of 2,000 applications
from the Class of 2012 wishing to study at universities abroad and 300
of them have already confirmed their places. Of that group, over 150 had
been disqualified in the local education system.
Students who fail the “O” levels prefer overseas
education, where they take a one-year foundation course and move on to
degree courses. The Executive Secretary for Tanzania Commission for
Universities, Prof Sifuni Mchome, confirmed that they were aware of the
situation. “We recognise many universities of such kind,” he added, “and
the commission recognises graduates from Tanzania who pass through such
a system.”
In these circumstances, the foundation course is
regarded as equivalent to advanced level in the local education system.
“This overseas system allows students who want to pursue science
subjects, such as medicine, to take a shortcut to realising their
dreams,” Mr Mollel said.
Some of the universities that GEL partners with
are located in Canada, America and United Kingdom. In Tanzania, though,
those who want to study medicine but fail to join Form Five have to
spend four years training at the clinical officer level and also
practice for sometime before applying for a degree in medicine.
According to Mr Mollel, the local education system
tends to discourage students who fail from trying to achieve their
dreams.
“We lose many potential scientists, though the country is in dire need of more science experts,” he added, “only because we lack a system to develop these disqualified students to advanced level.”
“We lose many potential scientists, though the country is in dire need of more science experts,” he added, “only because we lack a system to develop these disqualified students to advanced level.”
Mr Dismass Lyassa of Global Source Watch, an
agency that recruits students for overseas education, noted that this
year there was a rise in number of Form Four graduates applying for
college opportunities abroad. His agency served about 49 students in a
month this year.
A total of 397,138 sat the examinations and 124,260 students (43.08 per cent) scored Division IV this year.
Some 35,349 (9.55 per cent) scored Division I to III, of whom 10,924 were girls and 24,425 boys.
Private high schools also face tough times. The
Tanzania Association of Managers and Owners of Non-Government Schools
and Colleges said many private high schools may close down.
According to the chairman, Mr Mahmoud Mringo, some 10 to 15 schools could close down in Dar es Salaam alone and the number is likely to be much higher countrywide.
According to the chairman, Mr Mahmoud Mringo, some 10 to 15 schools could close down in Dar es Salaam alone and the number is likely to be much higher countrywide.
Deputy Minister for Education and Vocational
Training Philipo Mulugo announced recently that poor performance in the
2012 fourth form examinations has created a shortfall of about 10,000
students to fill Form Five places in public schools.
Only 33,683 candidates qualified to join Form Five against the available 43,757 places.
Only 33,683 candidates qualified to join Form Five against the available 43,757 places.
