Africa-Press – Tanzania. PRESIDENT John Magufuli has directed the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to reintroduce the teaching of History a compulsory subject at all levels of the educational ladder.
Giving directives to the ministers and their deputies on Wednesday (December 9,2020) at the Chamwino State House in Dodoma soon after swearing-in ceremony, President Magufuli said there is need to make History a compulsory subject to enable children understand their nation’s history.
The Head of State said understanding the country’s history will also inculcate on Tanzanian children the culture of patriotism.
He said patriotism is an aspect that should be implanted in children right from their school life through the teaching of History.
President Magufuli expressed his desire for reforms in the education sector, insisting that making the teaching of History an obligatory matter is one of the issues that should be considered.
“In this, we want this subject to be compulsory… we want our children to be taught history of their country. This will help to build patriotism,” President Magufuli stated.
President Magufuli has reappointed Prof Joyce Ndalichako as education minister.
He argued that it was important that Tanzanians know where they came from.
He noted that some Tanzanians were blind on their country’ history, including the liberation struggles by the Father of the Nation Mwalimu Julius Nyerere during the fight for independence.
“This is why you find some government leaders turn against their nation by sidelining with foreigners to plunder national resources,” he stated.
The President was optimistic that through the teaching of History subject in which people would read about how colonialists tricked traditional chiefs to reap valuable resources from the country.
“When people know this history they would probably apply that experience in today’s circumstances,” President Magufuli stated.
He said it is now the right time for pupils and students learn more about the history of their country than other countries. However, he quickly told the ministry that his emphasis on history subject did not mean that other subjects are undervalued.
Dr Magufuli reminded that science subjects would remain important considering the growth of science and technology globally.
