Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE government has com- mended the National Institute of Transport (NIT) for introducing a new programme on naval ar- chitecture and marine engineering as well as courses on railway transport.
Speaking at the Institute’s 37th graduation at Mabibo main campus in Dar es Salaam, the Deputy Minister for Works and Transport Mwita Waitara said, the new courses are very important in fostering the national economy.
And he insisted the introduction of the three courses will help reduce the burden on the government to send students for training abroad.
“I am delighted to hear that NIT has continued to expand the scope of training in this im- portant sector including self-reliance in all modes of transport including Air, Marine, Rail, Roads and pipe transport.
I congratulate you,” he said. Waitara said the government was aware of the challeng- es facing the Institute, including deteriorating infrastructure and buildings, shortage of lecturers’ offices and shortage of dormito- ries for sheltering students.
“The government will continue to work with the Institute to ensure these challenges are addressed,” he said.
He said the government has procured two aircraft for aviation training at NIT, two engines for aircraft engineering and mock-ups for the Cabin Crew training.
In a further effort to improve the sector, he said that the government has provided 60 hectares of land in the Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) to facilitate aviation training. On his part, NIT Rector Prof Zacharia Mganilwa said that the number of students admitted to the Institute has been increasing yearly thus, leading to an increase in professionals in the transport sector.
“Over the past five years, the number of students has increased by 67 per cent from 7,752 in 2016/2017 to 12,980 in 2021/2022,” he said. Prof Mganilwa said that currently, NIT has a total of 346 staff; among them, 224 are aca- demic staff.
“When compared to the actual need of the Institute, the number of academic staff is small especially for academic staff,” he said added: “The situ- ation is compelling the Institute to spend a lot of money to pay part-time lecturers to fill the gaps.”
He stated that the Institute has continued to build the capacity of its lecturers and staff by sending them abroad to improve their knowledge and skills.
The Rector informed that in the academic year 2020/21 a total of 65 staff members were studying, of which 30 staff members are pursuing doctorates, 30 are taking master’s degrees and five (5) are on undergraduate and postgraduate studies.
He stressed that NIT has various strategies to prepare hu- man resources that will meet the needs of the labour market in the transport and logistics sector especially considering the implementation of major eco- nomic reforms that the Sixth (6) Phase Government has contin- ued to make.
“We have been able to introduce and revise various curricula from the diploma level to a master’s degree including improving the teaching and learning environment including renovation and construction of new buildings, procurement of laboratory equipment and ga- rages,” he said.
Prof Mganilwa said that the government has provided the Institute with a 60-hectare site located at Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) for the construction of Hangar.
For More News And Analysis About Tanzania Follow Africa-Press
