Solve students' problems stop politicking

By Elias Mhegera
UP to 1991, Tanzania was still under the single party system, but even then there were constant student demonstrations. Today this country is under multiparty system so the current demonstrations are seen differently.

Recently one of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) main propagandists Tambwe Hiza said that the demonstrations and students crises in general are instigated by opposition parties that did not make it during the last year’s General Election.

But in essence it should be understood that problems within high learning institutions stems from the fact from the outset there had never been coherent national policy to deal with higher education.

The newly created Ministry of Science, Technology, and Higher Education in 1991, was just a shock absorber following a big student strike in 1990 at the University of Dar es Salaam which saw the ‘Hill’ as the university is also known, being closed for eight months.

The then Tanzanian President Ali Hassan Mwinyi was ill advised that students were about to organize a mass movement that would have toppled him as it had happened in Rumania, Poland and Yugoslavia, the trio were under single party system as it was in this country.

Therefore there is a need to find permanent solutions in tertiary institutions rather rush into conclusions that the constant strikes are politically instigated by the opposition parties. Rather the Governemnt should take into consideration the fact that with any kind of inflation there will be a need to increase students’ allowances.

In order to allocate resources which will cater for demands of students in tertiary institutions there is a need to reduce expenditures which are not necessary. For instance mushrooming of small training centres and institutions belonging to separate ministries and parastatals is a liability to the Government.

There is poor co-ordination in the development of higher education, resulting in duplication of programmes and awards; lack of legal and regulatory framework for the establishment of new institutions and certification; low enrolments amidst the uncoordinated proliferation of institutions.

While there is an increase of tertiary institutes but there are no enough infrastructures like hostels to support accommodation for students. There are no enough preparations of lecturers and learning materials including libraries and theatres to meet the ever increasing number of students.

This need then calls for harmonization of long term plans in the provision of higher education. The council for accreditation should be empowered in order to meet these purposes. The dramatic expansion of enrolments should not compromise the quality of education.

Institutionalization of cost sharing should be a measure to reduce the burden to the Governemnt but also it should not be a catalyst to classes and gender imbalances in enrolments. Female have the right to participation in the running of their country.
mhegeraelias@yahoo.com, Tel: 0754-826272