confirmed that it is set to undertake a major overhaul of
the education sector by introducing English-medium
primary schools.
The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Prof Sifuni
Mchome, told the ‘Daily News’ on Wednesday that in
principle the government was ready to try the new
system which would be well elaborated in the new
Education and Training Policy currently in its final
stages.
He said the curricula for English-medium schools were ready but the ministry was still studying how best they could be included and implemented in the new policy.
“We have already gathered a lot of views on the matter and we think the system can be implemented in some few select areas, depending on the preparations and general educational infrastructure,” he said.
He said some local government authorities had shown the desire to introduce English-medium primary schools and that the ministry would guide and supervise them accordingly.
Prof Mchome said the coming of the new Education Policy would come with a lot of new changes in the education system which would witness many of the current practices being phased out.
He could not categorically state the outdated educational practices likely to be phased out, but he was certain that introducing English-medium programmes in primary schools could be one of such changes.
It was also considered, subject to more expert consultations with stakeholders, that Tanzania could try video and distant learning training and online instructions along with the existing classroomand- teacher system.
“The world is changing very fast and we think the country has to start adopting some, if not all, changes in our education system,” he said.The idea, however, doesn’t augur well with some stakeholders, including legislators who spoke to the ‘Daily News’ on the government move.
Mr Jabir Marombwa, MP for Rufiji, said it was dangerous for the country to plan introducing the new system, fearing that in the long run, applicability of the idea would kill the national language, Kiswahili, currently commonly used in schools. He suggested that Kiswahili remain as a medium of instruction for primary education and English remain just a subject.
Nevertheless, he said a lot of investment should be deployed in ensuring Kiswahili was widely and extensively taught for the country to produce professional Kiswahili experts who would sell it outside the country.
Mr Marombwa, a teacher by profession who said he had taught for 26 years in the past, suggested instead that the proposed system be piloted in some areas of the country to test its effectiveness.
Mr Jabir said he was a member of a select committee on the state of education under the Prime Ministers Officewhose report has not been made public to date, but couldn’t recall the issue of English-medium primary schools being mentioned anywhere.
He was supported by Mr Kombo Khamis Kombo an MP for Mgogoni Pemba who emphasized for Kiswahili to continue being given first priority as a medium of instruction in primary schools.
However, as the new Education Policy is awaited, the current policy explains that regions, districts, communities and educational institutions are legally empowered to manage and administer education and training as well as improving its quality.
