With much gratitude, I am thankful to everyone’s contribution to my article regarding our ailing education system. I read every comment. I have to acknowledge that a greater part of the contributions through email and blog were positive and revealing.
Let me also express my gratefulness to brother Michuzi, who unequivocally has taken the role of connecting Tanzanians across the globe. Brother, you are a living example of what happen when someone pursues their passion (heart) and not their mind. We thank you.
As the conclusion of the last article stated, this time I was to lay out my ideas on what I thought ought to be done to revitalize our education system. However, it will be unmerited to jump to conclusion without revisiting your contributions, which were not only instructive but informative.
Some pointed to the flaws, while others offered solutions. Just when I thought I had paid attention to our failing education system, you guys assured me that Tanzania is not lacking the best ideas on how to transform our struggling sectors. Below is the summary of the few inputs that caught my imaginations. To others, this could be repetitious; however, this is to explicate on what Tanzanians can achieve when boldly standing together.
Just to add few flaws with the current education system, the first input was concerning politicizing our education system; I could not agree more. When one had expected our educational experts to spearhead the fight regarding the quality of our education system; everything in our beloved country has turned political.
In most cases, the question before any transformation is how can a politician gain and not how the transformation will help our kids. Consequently, greed and short-term gain is rewarded at the expense of the Tanzanians’ future. To underscore the point, in his editorial comments last week, Jenerali Ulimwengu through Raiamwema brought the point home that politics is the fastest growing sector in Africa. While other sectors are dead, one does not need any expertise to be a politician in Africa.
Ally on the other hand, questioned the credibility of graduates from our own Tanzanian institutions when national examinations are leaking, forged certificates are sold everywhere, and many schools are trained by teachers with less credentials.
I am told some of our primary schools are still trained by Universal Primary Education (UPE) trainees, shame on us. If I understood Mr. Ally correctly: occasionally, it is hard to acknowledge those who worked hard till the university level while aware that some of them did not get there through legal means. I am sure the ripple effect does not stop in Tanzania.
The Engineer from Canada noted that not only does our education failing us, but we Tanzanians “reward failure” by demeaning accountability. His question was “..can anyone name the last person to be fired from ministry of education due to the leakage of national exam? I doubt it.
Just to recapitulate the flaws within our educations system the following quote by anonymous contributor tells all.
...JAMANI SOMENI HII ARTICLE YA NDUGU YETU KWA MAKINI, HILI SUALA SIO SIASA NA HALIHITAJI JAZBA HATA KIDOGO. KWA JINSI NILIVYOMUELEWA MTOA MADA NIKWAMBA, TANZANIA EDUCATION SYSTEM IS BASED ON CREDENTIALING RATHER THAN EDUCATING. EXPERIENCE YA VYUO VYETU INAONYESHA KWAMBA, A DEGREE AND EDUCATION ARE NOT NECESSARILY SYNONYMOUS. KAMA ALIVYOSEMA MR. MUKURU, INAKUWAJE KILA MWAKA WANAFUNZI WANAHITIMU KWENYE VYUO VYETU, LAKINI HATUONI MABADILIKO YOYOTE KATIKA JAMII ZETU?. WEWE ENGINEER GANI AMBAYE HAWEZI HATA KUBUNI FILIMBI? AU MCHUMI GANI AMBAYE HAWEZI KUJA NA MKAKATI WA KUWAKWAMUA WANANCHI WA WILAYA YA LUKULEDI, KASULU, MPANDA, AU ARUMERU KIUCHIMI? UMESOMA NINI? WOTE WANAKIMBILIA DAR KWENYE MAWIZARA ILI WAENDELEZE UFISADI. THIS IS OUR HALF A CENTURY EDUCATION SYSTEM BASED ON CREDENTIALING RATHER THAN EDUCATING. SYSTEM INAPRODUDE MEN WITHOUT A HEART. GRADUATES HAWANA PASSION NA PROFESSION ZAO WALA NCHI YAO INAYOWASOMESHA.UFISADI NDIO UMETANDA AKILINI.NDIO MAANA HAWAFIKIRII MARA MBILI KUSIGN MIKATABA INAYOTUANGAMIZA BADALA YA KUTUSAIDIA. OUR EDUCATION IS NO LONGER CONSIDERED AS AN INVESTMENT THAT SOCIETY MAKES IN THE NEXT GENERATION. KILA ANAEMALIZA MASOMO ANAISHIA KUWA BONZO. UMEFIKA WAKATI WA KUBADILISHA JINSI TUNAVYOWAELIMISHA VIJANA WETU.
Afrikanihuru
Enough about complaining; let’s look at your solutions. A lot of constructive ideas were brought forward; many of you highlighted the significance of letting our education experts come up with solutions as opposed to politicians. Commenting on the issue, Mlabata suggested that we should start with the basics by knowing the science of teaching (pedagogy) and making practical part of the whole system. Mlabata believes our education should be of Afro-centric approach where students concentrate on problems surrounding our own environments instead of learning other non-advantageous topics.
What about the role of our educators (teachers)? A number of you raised concerns over having educators with disappointing grades to teach our children. Meaning, those who did not have impressive results of their own might not be able educate others to the fullest. Zabron Mgonja remarked about the need of having creative educators who can transform our children’s mind to the practical and imaginative mode; also a great deal of you stipulated the call for a fresh look at the profession of teaching specifically the need of having teachers with university level graduate education sustained by a fair compensation.
With reference to our executive leaders, obviously they are not paying attention to our deteriorating education system. Like one of you pointed out that most of our executive leaders are aware that our schools and colleges are not meeting their expectations, hence the reason why they send their children to study abroad or other private schools. The question is how do we bring awareness to these leaders?
One of the contributors gave a rather thrilling idea but I am afraid very difficult to enact. Dosi called for the government to enact a law that will restrict our elected officials and other top officials from sending their children to private schools.
The engineer from Canada highlighted the necessity of students having projects in schools; he/she suggests that this should start at the secondary level. The engineer acknowledges that the projects are open to cheating “but they encourage a different way of thinking, teamwork, and data gathering.” He also calls for the utilization of our own retirees such as doctors, engineers, and other professions to fill gaps in some of our schools, citing their accomplishments will serve not only as an inspirational but their knowledge is hands-on. This is a great idea surfacing not only in Canada but United States, and other western world countries.
Da Sophie however, feels that there is a need of clear information access to parents. Parents should be informed over what education their children are expected to receive thus creating accountability on both sides of the spectrum. Otherwise, she concludes, our efforts will prove futile if there is no transparency and accountability from parents, educators, and the government.
Alternatively, Mwalimu Mbele asks us to be responsible citizens instead of whiners. He challenges us to instill not only a reading books habit to our kids but be aware that education is valuable hence be ready to spend more funds on materials that might enhance our children’s imaginations.
Conversely, Kichwangumu and many others recommend the establishment of the community college system instead of many colleges that are hardly defined, chuo cha uganga usaidizi, chuo cha siasa, chuo cha samaki –Bagamoyo and more. They believe all these professions can be taught at community colleges. Community colleges should give their students an opportunity to transfer to universities should they want to. I believe this is also based on the cost perspective as well as standardization of the system itself.
Munyalukolo advised to revisit what MP J. Mungai from Mufindi proposed while serving as education secretary; that is rectifying the system by making sure “standard one” till “form six” are taught on the importance and application of education while our colleges are focusing on creating well trained professionals. Also, Mr. Mungai advocated broadening math and engineering classes, cancel or invigorate sports in schools rather than having sports without a clear future for students.
Obviously I can not write all good ideas I received, yet placing them into perspective is imperative. I am aware that the ideas above are sketchy but enlightening; let us treat this as drawing board where with many good intentioned ideas we can finally come up with something concrete to revolutionaries our education.
Through brother Michuzi as our bridge I urge my fellow Tanzanians to bring our ideas forth, for I know there are many people with constructive ideas regarding efficient education system. It does not matter where you are or what you do, whether in Alaska, Bangalore, Cape Town, Shirati, Bukoba, Hamburg or Canton the issue of education is a national case and we know how fast is deteriorating.
As I put my thoughts together regarding this concern, I believe we should not stay quite while aware of the silent killing of our kid’s future, in the end Martin Luther King made it clear that "It is not a brutality of brutal people that makes an evil; it is the silence of the good people." I think it is our silence that will make this matter worse and not the arrogance and greediness our leaders.
SAWA MZEE WE MALIZA DEGREE KISHA UMBA UPANGIWE MPANDA AU DODOMA KAMA UTAKUBALI KIRAHISI.
ReplyDeleteANY WAY NI HIVI NI KWELI WATU KUTOKA NJE "WABEBA MABOX" WENGI WAO WAMEJIFUNZA MENGI IKIWEPO KUCHANGANYA CULTURE "UTAMADUNI" NA WANAPORUDI BONGO WANA LAUMU SANA, WAKASAUHAU KITU KIMOJA CULTURE ZIMETOFAUTIANA, SASA WANGEJUA WANGEWAPA TRAINING YA ELIMU MPYA WALIYOPATA KUTOKA UGAIBUNI ILI WATU WABADILIKE KULINGANA NA TEKNOLOGI ETC SIO KULAUMU BILA TRAINING, JE UKINILAUMU SIJUI KUENDESHA BILA KUNIFUNDISHA NI TAWEZA?
Bravo Mukuru. Keep the good work going, never let others silence you. Remember education is the road to civilization if not advancement.
ReplyDeleteYour contribution is much needed now in TZ more than ever.
Wewe charles (Mwandishi)
ReplyDeleteHii ni literature review ya thesis yako au nini? maana naona unaelezea fulani kasema blah blah, fulani anaamini blah blah and so on and so on.
Acheni kulalama wabongo education yetu siyo bora sana lakini siyo mbaya kiasi hicho, (ubora ni function ya perfomance, Output and comparison) wala huko sijaona ulichokisema mfano ukilinganisha na Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Egypt etc)
kilichopo ni kwamba "wasomi wameshatoa jinsi ya ku-solve problem zote za wananchi" nenda kila wizara tanzania utakuta report za utafiti wa kila tatizo la wizara kazi kubwa wameshafanya tayari!!
Tatizo: Ku-translate hizo findings kwenye action "NO political will" kilicho baki kila mtu anamuibia mwenzake
Solution: Political change
You know what we are failing ,it is not the structure cos we are having a lot of reforms and a lot have already been brough t to justice and fired for examination leakages and i beleave we have the bst system of education in the worls.What we are missing is where to concetrate,our leaders keep saying we have fewer accountants etc but that is not the case the case is our area are productions are agricultural(cormecial & cows) and mining that s where we should be studing deep.full stop and not lots of accounting or economics or it there we just need basics we are not scientist and we will never be we just have to hire vendors
ReplyDeleteMtoa mada akhsante,
ReplyDeleteMie nina maoni kidogo kuhusu haswa mchakato unaoendelea sasa hivi ndani ya vyombo viwili vikubwa vyenye dhamana haswa ya elimu ya juu. Kuna TCU na NACTE vyote vinazungumzia "ELIMU YA JUU", ninachokiogopa mie ni pale kunapokuwa na "OVERLLAPING INTERESTS" kati ya hivyo vyombo viwili vya juu kabisa.
Mtazamo wangu juu ya hilo ni kuundwa kwa timu maalumu (mfano ni South Africa mwaka 1994), wa kuangalia kwa kuunganisha, LEARNING OUTCOMES from Primary School to Universities. Hii kwangu naiona itasaidia sio tu kuandaa wataalamu, pia ni kuandaa wafundishaji wenye mtazamo mmoja toka ngazi ya chini hadi ya juu. Na vile vile timu hii ya wataalamu inatakiwa itutengenezee Tanzania Education Framework ambayo ndo itakuwa mwongozo katika elimu yetu. Hebu imagine una wanafunzi 30, 10 wametoka shule za kata (hakuna waalimu wala mitaala haifikiwi), 10 wametoka Academia (waalimu ni wengi kwa sababu ya malipo mazuri na mitaala mingi ya nje) na 10 wametoka katika zile shule zetu zinazoendesha na mashirika/jumuiya za kidini (utamaduni wa dini fulani na mitaala kamili, walimu wanaolipwa vizuri)-- ni kitu gani kinatokea hapo ili uweze kuwabadili waanze kuchukua sasa utaratibu shule yako iliyowapokea uliojiwekea? Ni vurugu tuu, hivyo basi Tanzania Education Framework itakuwa ndo suluhisho.... na iwe na interlocking connectivity of all levels of education our country can offer.
Samahani kwa kuwafanya msome kwa urefu sana.
PIGENI KELELE ZOTE LAKINI BILA ELIMU YA URAIA ELIMU YETU HAITAKUWA NA MANUFAA. KUVUJA KWA MITIHANI KUNATOKANA NA WAHUSIKA IKIWA WA WIZARANI NA WANAFUNZI KUTOJUA WANAWAJIBIKA NINI KULIFANYIA TAIFA LAO, KWAO UHUNI NDIYO MAISHA BORA. WALE WALIOFUZU PIA NAO WAMO KATIKA MKUMBO HUOHUO, HAWAJUI NINI WALIFANYIE TAIFA LAO AMBALO LIMEWAGHARAMIA MPAKA WAKAFIKA HAPO WALIPO, KWAO PIA WIZI WA MUDA WA KAZI NA MIKATABA MIBOVU NDIYO MAISHA BORA BILA KUJALI KUWA WANAOATHIRIKA NI WENGI. KWA JUMLA HAKUNA MTU ANAYESOMA ILI ALITUMIKIE TAIFA BALI KUPATA KAZI KWAKE NI KUONDOKANA NA UMASIKINI, YAANI AMEULA! HIVYO TAIFA LISITARAJIE KUPATA CHOCHOTE KUTOKA KWAKE BALI YEYE NDIYE ANAYETARAJIA KUPATA KUTOKA KWA TAIFA! RUSHWA NA WIZI. LAKINI YOTE HAYA YANATOKANA NA CCM KUTOAFIKI WANACHI KUFUNDISHWA ELIMU YA URAIA KWANI INAHOFIA WANANCHI KUAMKA KUTOKA USINGIZINI, INAONA BORA WANANCHI WAISHI KATIKA UJINGA ILIMRADI WAO WAENDELEE KUKAA MADARAKANI.
ReplyDeleteI could not agree with the observations any more!!
ReplyDeleteI just need a solution which ME (I) can do.
I do not need politicians, presidents, or your solution, I need my solution, NOW,
What can one do?
You me, and anybody else, We have known time and time again that, the people in position will not, can not do anything to solve this major problem. So we either do something ourselves, or keep quiet.
Mtoa maada, aliyekuwa waziri wa elimu Joseph Mungai alisema michezo iwepo pale ambapo haitaingilia muda wa masomo na wahusika wa wizarani waje na mkakati ambao michezo ya kitaifa haitaingilia muda wa masomo kwa wanafunzi na walimu wao kufundisha. Mpaka hapo itakapofanyika basi mashindano ya KITAIFA yalisitishwa ila shule ziliendelea kucheza na kushindana kama kawaida. Wizarani, kwa vile kila mdau alikuwa amefanya UMISHUMTA na UMISETA kama mtaji, walikuwa hawana jipya na wameshindwa kuleta mikakati ya mashindano pasipo kuingilia masomo.
ReplyDeleteMwalimu Mkuu, hivi unadhani kweli hakuna an Educatio Framework hapa Tanzania? Kwa taarifa yako ipo (ndio waziri Mungai aliyokuwa anaitumia kwenye maamuzi yake)Hiyo framework(inawezekana haiitwi hivyo) lakini ndio inayochanganua kwamba muda wa masomo darasani ni siku kadhaa za mwaka, watoto wasome nini na lini etc etc. Inaonekana ilikuwepo siku nyingi tu ila every waziri aliikwepa mpaka Munga akawa bold enough to tackle the issue therein.
Asante Mnyalukolo kwa kuliona hilo.
ReplyDeleteWakati mwingine tuwe wakweli. Mh Munagi alisababisha kuwepo na Mushrooming "ACADEMIAS" ambacho zidhani kama ndo framework yetu. Mufmo mzima wa elimu hautanabaishi kusema kuwa "UTAKUWA NANI/UTAWEZA KUFANYA NINI" baada ya elimu yako ndani ya Tanzania.
Niligusia kidogo NACTE na TCU ili uone kuwa kuna vitu ambavyo havina hata uelekeo wa kuweza kukutana sehemu na kusema mie nimesaidia katika hili na wewe lile ndani ya framework nzima. Kila chombo kina mtazamowa wake binafsi kuhusu elimu ya Tanzania na Watanzania wake.
Kama hiyo framework ipo, basi imepitwa na wakati. Kwanza kiundwe chombo kitakachosimamia TCU na NACTE ili wasije gombana siku moja mbeleni (pale mambo yakishaharibika zaidi), na vile vile Wataaluma wakae chini na kutuletea mfumo utakaoonyesha EXPLICITLY kuwa "WHAT ARE THE LEARNING OUTCOME WE EXPECT FROM OUR EDUCATION"
Solution hii nadhani itatupeleka kule tunapopahitaji. Lakini tusimsemee sana Mungai kwani alikuwa na nia binafsi ya kuingiza zaidi Academia (ili na za kwake na rafiki zake zipate upenyo). Angalia the aftermath, hayupo mezani, elimu ya Academia inaporomoka so as public education.
Sitaki turudi kwenye politics zaidi, kama huyu mtoa mada (I hoope haandiki thesis) akiziweka vizuri hizi, zinauzika kwa wapenda maendeleo na mfumo mzima wa elimu "YA KITANZANIA" utaboreka na utaonekana, na kila atajua akitaka kuwa nani/kufanya nini (what to be v/s what skill for ... ) afanye nini. Kwa kuwa hicho hakijulikani, ndo maana inakuwa rahisi kwa watalaamu wa Graphics kuchapisha vyeti na kuviuza kama njugu.
I rest
Mwalimu mkuu,
ReplyDeleteNimekupata vizuri na inavyoonekana una knowledge na hivi vitu, nyie mnahitajika.
Mimi sio mtaalamu wa elimu, ila ninachomsifu Mukuru ni kwamba atleast anajaribu kuanika wazi jinsi gani elimu yetu ilivyokuwa na matobo mengi.
I don't care kama anaandika thesis au hapana, atleast anaongelea masuala yanatuhusu sisi watanzania, particularly watoto wetu wanaohitaji shule nzuri.
Sasa hichi ndo cha kushangaza, kwa vile ameandika mambo muhimu na yanayohitaji serious thinking watu wala hawajali.
Mwalimu Mkuu sijui kama nimekupata fresh ila nakumbuka pale wizarani waziri Mungai alikuwa mstari wa mbele kuhakikisha shule zinasajiliwa na kuitwa ipasavyo yaani "primary school" au "secondary school" na kuhimiza kuachana na majina yasiyoeleweka kama "academy", "institute" etc zilizo maanisha primary au secondary schools. Pia, alipinga kuondokana na shule zinazoitwa majina ya watakatifu wakati wamiliki wao ni wa dini nyingine au hazina maana kwenye utakatifu. Nakumbuka shule moja iliitwa "St Millenium" - Mtakatifu Millenium ni nani sijui? Au kulikuwa na shule inaitwa kwa mfano St. Joseph Academy lakini haina uhusiano wowote na St. Joseph na mmiliki ni muislamu.
ReplyDeleteMukuru, Nafurahia mada hii maana kiukweli inagusa nchi yetu kwa Miaka Mingi ijayo (kwa kuangalia kizazi kilicho shule hivi sasa.) Mie ningefurahia zaidi kuona watu wengi wanaichangia mada hii maana ni muhimu kwa maendeleo ya taifa. They say KNOWLEDGE is the very most resources man needs in exploring the world, development in particular.".
ReplyDeleteUmefikia wakati tunatakiwa kusimamia kile tunachokiamini. Na kwa kuwa tumeshaona uwozo ndani ya system nzima, system ambayo Mnyalukolo ameisemea kuwa "hata ukiharibu hupewi hata onyo".
Ninachoomba sasa ni jumuisho la yaliyosemwa na kuchangiwa ili yatumike kama SAUTI TOKA NYIKANI, "the voice of voiceless" .
Nina uhakika, kuwa wanatusoma na wanafanyia kazi maoni yetu, japo wanajufanya wamefumba macho lakini nina imani wanatusikia. Tuseme bila woga, maana wanaotuongoza kwa POLITICS OF BELLY wamezidi ubinafsi. Kwa hiyo msiache kusema. Mie mchango wangu nshausema, vunjilia mbali NACTE na TCU, weka chombo kimoja, ama tengeneza ulaji mwingine kwa watu kwa kuunda chombo kitakachosimamia TCU na NACTE, then by trickle down approach, the system will reflect the primary and secondary level. education. NEW FRAMEWORK FRIENDS, NEW FRAMEWORK -- TRULY TRANSPARENT ONE, Nionyeshe nikitaka kuwa "Business Administrator, which route should I take, or which one should my parents chose for me at the time I start schooling...... you know what I mean.