A HARDWARE company has vowed to provide free of charge 1.5 million desks to primary and secondary schools in the country. According to the company, Edosama Hardware Limited, the move aims at supporting President John Magufuli’s commitment to provide free education from primary Standard One to Form Four.
Speaking at a news conference in Dar es Salaam, the company’s Managing Director, Mr Edward Maduhu, said that he had on December 18, written to President Magufuli, lamenting the bureaucracy that his company was facing in implementing the project that aims at finding the final solution to the scarcity of desks in the country.
“We presented our proposal two years ago but, unfortunately, we are yet to receive any response in our quest to end problems facing our children who are still sitting on stones because of scarcity of desks,” he noted, adding:“We should remember that the Head of State stated when speaking with business people at the State House in Dar es Salaam that if a businessperson who is committed in investing in a particular project but is facing stumbling blocks from those who fall under his appointment, we should report that person for further steps.”
According to the company’s consultant, Mr Oscar Kaduma, for them to provide 1.5 million desks, they required 200,000 cubic metres of pine trees from the government, which would help the government to save 150bn/-.
Apart from distributing desks to more than 4.5 million of pupils and students countrywide, Mr Kaduma said 200,000 employment opportunities would also be created. According to the MD, the company was using automated machines that were capable of producing 300 desks per day, pointing out that after adding more machines, the company will be able to produce 1,000 desks per day.
The project is expected to be undertaken with the TIB Investment Bank (TIB). Speaking at the same event, a representative of parents, Mr Amon Mzava, requested concerned leaders to consider the project positively and put politics aside.
“In some schools, especially in the rural areas, pupils are still sitting on stones. Therefore, if this project becomes successful, we will have some relief to purchase uniforms for our children,” he insisted.
When contacted, the Deputy Minister for Education, Science, Technology and Vocational Training, Engineer Stella Manyanya, said she was not aware of the proposal unless it had been submitted before she took over office.
However, she said a number of stakeholders need to be involved, including the forestry department and municipal councils to see how the whole projects can work.
“It is a good proposal but it needs thorough discussions as it involves resources, I will contact the Tanzania Education Authority (TEA) and the Ministry responsible for Local Government to see how best they can handle the whole proposal as it is within their reach”, said the deputy minister.
/Daily News.
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