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Higher learning institutes and vocational training centres in Tanzania have been advised to venture into teaching professions which are currently not offered in the country to create employment base and reduce costs of hiring foreign experts.
The Director General of Economic Processing Zone Authority (EPZA), Dr Adelhelm Meru gave that advice when talking to journalists yesterday in Dar es Salaam, when briefing them on some of development projects registered by EPZA for the past six years.
“We lack experts in extractive industry…those who cut and polish gemstones, and as a result the country relies heavily on foreign expertise,” he said.
He said that area is important and if properly used, will help to add value to many people’s lives and economic developments at large.
He mentioned an area that lacks local experts as textile industry; saying that if enough people will be trained in this area it will help them seize employment opportunities and make them active players in developing the sector in the country.
He mentioned other areas where huge investments under the EPZA are about to take place as Bagamoyo, Mtwara and Kurasini.
“People should struggle and acquire required expertise and take advantage of such investment opportunities in the near future,” he said.
He said it is high time that authorities should take a lot of youths to universities and vocational training institutes and acquire hands-on expertise in anticipation of many investments expected to take place for Tanzania to reap maximum benefits.
He said a feeling that Tanzanians are being sidelined in running big investments and projects is not true and that the major problem is lack of required expertise among the majority of citizens.
He challenged learning institutions to start aligning their courses in accordance with the needs in the country.
He said it is high time now that Tanzanians should stop lamenting but learn and be competitive. “We should learn to be efficient and competitive,” he insisted.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
