In the past two decades Tanzania has embarked on ambitious reforms in education. Since 2002 more pupils were enrolled as more classrooms were built.
The teaching curricula have been changed now and then in attempts to try and cope with the demands of modern education challenges.
Despite these efforts, there are still many hurdles that have continued to undermine the performance of education. Quality of education offered, particularly in public-run schools, has remained questionable.
Poor infrastructure, lack of teaching and learning materials, shortage of teachers and inadequate funding remain as the main challenges that have negatively impacted on the sector. All this is happening at the most dynamic times of human society.
Pupils joining the school journey are often eager to acquire education that would help them fit well into the job market in a largely scientific and technologically dynamic world. However, when the schooling environment is at best unfriendly, and at worst downright hostile, they are left in a life-long confusion of which some may never succeed to come out.
In our Monday edition, we published a story on Nanyati Primary School in Mtwara Region. The facility, which has only one classroom, was built three years ago. There are no teacher houses, no staff room and there are only a few desks. The school is seriously under-staffed as it has only two teachers and a volunteer. A visit to many parts of the country would prove that Nanyati is not alone, there are many other schools in similar dire conditions.
As activity of the fifth phase government gathers momentum, it is heartening to learn that the minister for Education, Science and Vocational Training, Dr Joyce Ndalichako, admits that quality education cannot be obtained under such poor infrastructure. She was also quoted as saying that the Regional Administration and Local Government, which is responsible for education infrastructure in primary schools, has already issued directives to all municipal and district councils to ensure that schools had all the required infrastructure to facilitate smooth learning.
Stakeholders' involvement
This brings us back to the question of proper planning. The respective authorities must ensure that they come up with short- and long-term plans in addressing the challenges facing education. This will only succeed if all stakeholders are fully involved in each stage - planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. This should also go hand in hand with mass education as to the responsibility every member of the public is expected to play.
Transparency and accountability in running the whole matter are other key conditions towards registering success. The adage that says 'Education is the key of life' should guide the manner in which all plans are executed. Goals should be clear and consistent while priorities should be identified and explained to all players. Relevant laws to enforce such matters should apply consistently.
The nation's future is bleak in the absence of quality education, because it will be preparing its own downfall as it will have no generation that is well prepared to take over and further its sustenance.
Given the fact that all are entitled to an education, let's make it a resolve that we don't only provide one to our children, but it is one of the highest quality and which is offered in the best learning environment possible.
Together we can.
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