Magufuli: We'll end the 'shame' in our schools

Dr John Magufuli, CCM's candidate for the Tanzanian presidency in the October 25 General Election, addresses a campaign rally at Mbalizi in Mbeya Region yesterday. (Photo: courtesy of Adam Mzee)

CCM’S flagbearer in the October 25 Presidential Election, Dr John Magufuli, has said he will move to end “the shame” of shortages of desks, chairs and other basic teaching and learning materials in schools across Tanzania if he wins the race. 

 

He declared the commitment at a well-attended campaign rally at Mbalizi in Songwe District, Mbeya Region, yesterday, noting that his government would not tolerate lack of basic supplies and supportive infrastructure in schools. 

 

Dr Magufuli reiterated his intention to abolish school fees for primary and secondary students, saying doing so would make sense only if the learning environment is also generally conducive. 

 

“Conditions in many of our schools are not friendly enough to teaching and learning. This is just not the kind of education our children need and deserve,” he said.

 

He said he was well aware of the situation prevailing in primary and secondary schools in the country, noting: “It is completely unacceptable for students to go without the supplies a supportive teaching and learning environment calls for.”Commenting on the escalation in the incidence of poaching, the Works minister said time had come for game wardens conspiring with poachers “to look for alternative jobs because, as President, I will not have mercy on them as my goal is to ensure that poaching becomes history in Tanzania”.

 

He wondered how poachers ventured into national parks and game reserves to kill elephants and other wild animals with impunity “while they (wardens) are also armed with sophisticated weapons meant to protect themselves in case of any attacks from poachers”. 

 

Tanzania’s elephant population has plummeted by more than 60 per cent during the past five years, according to authoritative sources.

The jumbos were estimated to number a lowly 43,330 at the end of last year, down from 109,051 in 2009.

 

Natural Resources and Tourism minister Lazaro Nyalandu recently said the reason for the steep decline might be seasonal migration of some of the animals to neighbouring countries, adding: “We are working to find out what has happened.”

 

At yesterday’s rally, Dr Magufuli also declared that his government would be especially keen on “getting right to the root cause of elephant poaching and poaching generally as well as corruption”.

 

Turning to longstanding teachers’ complaints about delays in payment of salary arrears, pension benefits, leave passage and other dues, he said he would address the issues with urgency the situation calls for.  

Meanwhile, he declared that his campaigns have not involved the borrowing of any funds from money lenders, adding: “My only debt to you will be the need to serve you with all the powers I can muster for our country’s social and economic development.”

 

Dr Magufuli underlined the need for him to observe and implement his party’s 2015 Election Manifesto, including striving to transform Tanzania’s economy through industrialisation. 

 

He said the government he would form if he wins the presidency would invest heavily in the development of communication and other infrastructure, “with special emphasis on the industrial sector – such fisheries – which has been on the rocks for many years”.

 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN