Africa-Press – Tanzania. PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has assured of her commitment to address all challenges facing teachers in the country, commending them for their continued efforts on fulfilling their responsibilities.
She made the assurance on Friday during the closing event of a three–day meeting for head teachers organised by Global Education Link (GEL) and Tanzania Head of Secondary Schools Association (TAHOSSA). The Head of State phoned the Minister for Education, Science and Technology Prof Joyce Ndalichako who was the guest of honour of the event.
“I planned to attend this meeting, unfortunately I didn’t make it because of other commitments, but I want to assure you that I’m aware of all the challenges that teachers are facing and I will work on them,” she said. She also encouraged teachers to continue fulfilling their responsibilities for the national interest, insisting that the government will continue working on their issues accordingly.
During her speech, Prof Ndalichako reminded teachers to observe the guidelines when punishing their students. Some of the teachers have been violating the guidelines on issuing punishment to the students, a move that creates fear and hatred among students. She also expressed concern on the presence of some schools which deny students from having leave by forcing them to remain at school and pay for remedial studies.
“Leave is a basic right to all students; this provides them with an opportunity to refresh their mind, meet their relatives and friends,” she said, noting that all remedial studies should get an approval from the education officersIn another development, as part of a continued effort to improve the education sector, the government has directed all public secondary schools which will be constructed from now on to have computer labs in order to facilitate teaching of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
Minister of State, President’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government, Ummy Mwalimu (pictyred) on Wednesday noted that from 2022-2025, the government will ensure 1,500 schools are equipped with computer labs and other important facilities. She said to start with, the government plans to install 50 computers in each school with all ICT facilities, adding that the government’s long plan is to do the same even in old schools.
In another move, Mwalimu cautioned secondary school teachers to stop charging parents, which is not in line with the government free education policy. “The late President Magufuli declared provision of free education, and our current President Samia has also continued to stress on that, but some schools have been charging parents money which is contrary to government directives,” she said.
She directed the Permanent Secretary in her office to prepare guidance over the matter for the government to know which payments are necessary for parents.
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