Distance learning still vital

By Elias Mhegera
August 2011
ZANZIBAR’S President Dr. Ali Mohammed Shein, has counseled African countries to see the importance of upholding distance learning being an essential strategy in their development initiatives.

In his closing speech to the third conference of the African Council for Distance Education at the Mlimani City Hall in Dar es Salaam that was read by the Zanzibar’s First Vice President Seif Sharif Hamad on his behalf, on Friday last week, Dr Shein said that African intellectuals and students have a vital role to play in this aspect of development.

“In meeting the challenges of scarcity of funds for the education sector distance learning could be one of the possible ways to fill this gap, but Governments must be pushed in this initiative through a supportive budget” said Dr Shein.

He said that education was the only method to ensure that African people undergo transformation and this could be made possible only if more people are empowered to acquire education.




He gave an example of Malaysia, China and India whose transformations were a product of a long-term investment in the education sector. In a similar bid Dr Shein urged this country to make maximum utility of Information Technology (IT) in order to fulfill this obligation.

He acknowledged the fact that African countries are faced with enormous challenges to the extent that they fail to set priorities as to what should be given more impetus.

He advised African countries to identify to their partners development partners their priorities rather than allow these donors to select what should be a priority to the African continent.

In a separate encounter Seif Sharif Hamad who has been an icon of Tanzanian politics for the past three decades said that Tanzanians are waiting eagerly to see how President Kikwete will react following Igunga’s MP Rostam Aziz resignation from his party posts and as a legislator.

He highlighted that since it was the President himself who had called for self responsibility by resignation to some politicians who had fallen out of the political system, it was imperative for the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) chairman to give an official statement after Azizi’s resignation.

However he admitted that being an outsider in the CCM party politics he was being subjected to mere speculations just like any other Tanzanian but he was hopeful that any major transformation in the ruling party will work for the betterment of the lives of people.

“I am an outside let us wait and see what will be the final result of these events,” he clarified. He did not hesitate to comment on the on-going commotions in the august House by saying that people were expecting prudence on whatever was being discussed for the benefit of all Tanzanians.

He was worried that recent trends indicate that the Parliament has been reduced into an avenue of exchanging heated speeches as if there were no laws and rules guiding its proceedings. He reminded people’s representative to adhere to ethics surrounding their calling of service to the people.