New education policy eyes English-medium schools

THE Ministry of Education and Vocational Training has
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.
 

NGO helps 230 school children

Over 230 pupils and students from disadvantaged families have received school necessities worth 80m/- from a Bunda based NGO dubbed Zinduka.

The school necessities which were given by the NGO through a sponsorship from a US based organisation dubbed Project Zawadi include school fees, uniforms, books, exercise books, pens, school bags, pencils, socks and other materials.

“The organisation is pleased with the job it has been doing in the past 11 years since its establishment,” said Max Madoro, Zinduka’s Director when handing over the school material and cash.

According to Madoro, the NGO has more than 100 students in different universities and other higher learning institutions who are being sponsored by the organization in terms of tuition fees and other necessities.

Tablet donation ushers in new era for schools

A STUDENT admires a tablet donated by the United States-based Opportunity Education Foundation (OEF) at Nyamisati in Rufiji District, Coast Region, on Monday as the Chairperson of WAMA Foundation, First Lady Salma Kikwete and OEF Chair Foundation Joe Ricketts look on.


A NEW era dawned in Tanzania's digital education landscape on Monday when a programme that aims at providing secondary school students with tablets pre-loaded with educational materials was launched.

The programme’s ultimate goal is to provide each secondary school student in the country with a tablet to enable them access educational materials electronically.

It will be implemented by the government and an American NGO -- Opportunity Education Foundation (EOF).

Implementation will begin with a pilot phase in 10 secondary schools on Tanzania Mainland and
Zanzibar, which will involve provision of about 1,100 tablets pre-loaded with Science, Mathematics,
Geography and History materials for Form Two students.

Each Form Two student in those schools will get one tablet, according to Tablet Manager from the foundation's office in Tanzania, Ms Sandra Tetty.

The donation makes Tanzania the first country in the world to receive the tablets under the EOF educational support programme, which earmarks 34 countries around the globe.

Launching of the programme involved handing over of 61 tablets to WAMA Nakayama Girls Secondary School at Nyamisati in Rufiji District by OEF Founder, Mr Joe Ricketts.

They were received by the Minister for Education and Vocational Training, Dr Shukuru Kawambwa and WAMA Chairperson, Mama Salma Kikwete. Mr Ricketts pledged a further donation of tablets for the entire school.

Shortage of desks haunts Tanzania's education sector

Kinondoni Mayor Yusuph Mwenda

Two municipalities in Dar es Salaam face an acute shortage of desks for primary and secondary schools, leaving thousands of pupils stranded, retarding their development.

In an interview with this paper, Kinondoni Mayor Yusuph Mwenda admitted that the shortage of desks in his area is too high.

Kinondoni municipality has 1.8 million residents, more than any of the three municipalities of Dar es Salaam, others being Temeke and Ilala.

“This population obviously means that number of children attending school is also very high, hence the requirement of desks will also be high,” he said.
Mwenda explained that there are over 23,000 primary schools in Kinondoni, meaning that the demand for desks is very high.

BOA celebrates family day

Bank of Africa(BOA) Managing Director Ammish Owusu Amoah

 BANK of Africa (BOA) Managing Director Ammish Owusu Amoah has reminded the community to be mindful of others in the society as December festivities approach.

Amoah made the remark during this year’s Family Day party hosted by BOA in Dar es Salaam over the weekend.
 
Stressing on the importance of family in the organization he said the bank will always strive to ensure that their staff concerns both in and out of the office are adequately addressed to reduce chances of
suffering from depression or stress.

The fun-filled event saw the bank engage their staff and their families in various sporting and mind games
that sought to bring out creativity and innovation which form part of the group’s core values.

Pinda, other dignitaries to grace Mzumbe graduation

Mzumbe University main campus








 Prime Minister, Mizengo Pinda is expected to be one of dignitaries to grace the 12th graduation ceremony of Mzumbe University main campus in Morogoro Municipality today.

Rather than a high caliber official, premier Pinda is attending the graduation as a proud parent, there to witness one of his own children along with 1748 other graduates be conferred their degrees by Mzumbe University Chancellor, Judge (Rt), Barnabas Samatta.

Vice President Bilal supports fundraising for school desks

Asumpter Mshama, Nkenge Member of Parliament


Vice President Dr Mohammed Gharib Bilal late last week graced a fund raising event aimed at raising 100m/- for the purchase of some 2500 desks for Nkenge constituency in Misenyi District, Kagera Region.

Speaking to journalists in Dar es Salaam, the Nkenge Member of Parliament Asumpter Mshama, said the fundraising is organised via the Madawati programme.

She said that, in her district, more than 5000 students seat on the floor while attending lessons but through the Nkenge foundation trust fund and the Madawati program the problem will finally be solved.

Wanafunzi waliosoma nje ya nchi kuchaguliwa kujiunga kidato cha tano nchini

NAMBA YA MTIHANI	JINA LA MWANAFUNZI	SHULE ALIYOSOMA	SHULE ALIYOPANGWA	TAHASUSI
315452202/008	HAPPINESS NEEMA RUFI	ST. CLARE GIRLS (KENYA)	MKUU	CBG
TZ027/0012	SEKSLA KAMPENI	MOROGORO INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL	IFUNDA GIRLS	PGM

Colleges told to offer only NACTE approved courses

Prof Barton Mwamila (L), newly appointed chairman of National Council for Technical Education (NACTE), displays a certificate and an award presented to him by Education minister Philipo Mulugo (C).

The government has said that technical colleges will from next academic year only be allowed to offer approved courses, a move aimed at helping their graduates from joining higher learning institutions.

Speaking during the inauguration of an international conference on technical colleges organised by National Council for Technical Education (NACTE), deputy minister for Education and Vocational Training, Philipo Mulugo, said technical colleges will have to start offering only NACTE approved courses in the 2014/15 academic year.

JK tells rich nations: Do more for climate change

Chairman of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change, President Jakaya Kikwete addresses the UN Conference on Climate Change (COP19/CMP9) in Warsaw, Poland 

Says Africa worst hit by greenhouse gases

President Jakaya Kikwete has called upon developed nations, who are the biggest carbon emitters to make available adequate, sustainable and predictable financial resources, transfer of technology on concessional basis and establishment modalities to finance the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

“Our position in Africa is that, developed countries should take appropriate action to reduce Green House Gases (GHGs) between 25 percent and 40 percent by 2020 and between 80 percent and 95 percent by 2050,” Kikwtete told attendants of the Climate Change United Nations Conference in Warsaw, Poland (COP 19).