But according to a Twaweza survey findings report released in Dar es Salaam yesterday, at least 15 per cent of Tanzanians are of the view that free education will eventually compromise quality due to a surge in enrolment that will over-stretch resources.
The survey, titled ‘A New Dawn? Citizens’ views on new developments in education’, said wananchi were divided almost by half over the quality of local primary education for the past ten years.
While 49 per cent said it has improved, 36 per cent said it has deteriorated, while 14 percent think there has been no change. At the same time, 9 out of 10 parents confirmed that they were paying various monetary contributions to schools, according to the report. About 80 per cent pay 50,000/- or less annually, while 8 per cent are paying over 100,000/-.
The contributions are said to be for a wide range of needs including security which accounts for (66 per cent), tests (57 per cent) and desks (34 per cent), school trips (4 percent), and the other 4 percent for graduation parties.
But according to the survey findings, most of the parents (89 per cent) believed that the teachers considered the contributions as an extra source of income for themselves.
Half of the parents (49 per cent) said they were comfortable with how the contributions were spent, while 6 out of 10 (58 per cent) said they thought the contributions were not authorized by the government.
It is generally feared that the state-sponsored Capitation Grants now being delivered directly to schools as their main source of funding may not be enough to replace contributions. The grant is allocated for the purchase of textbooks and other reading / reference materials.
According to Dr Joviter Katabaro from University of Dar es Salaam’s School of Education, it would be better for such funds to be directed towards improving teachers’ welfare and providing free meals to both primary and secondary school students.
“For improved performance, the government must ensure free meal for pupils” said
Dr Katabaro, noting that heavy investment was required to raise the numbers and quality of teachers in subjects like mathematics and science.
He also suggested the formation of a professional teachers organization to oversee teachers conduct and performance.
The Nzega Urban legislator (CCM), Hussein Bashe, called for a commission to deeply look into country’s education problems and propose solutions.
Bashe described the local education system as being messed up as authorities had failed to outline targeted priorities. He said instead of concentrating on education quality, efforts have been directed to increase the number of children enrolled in school.
“There is no free education.. it is the taxpayer who is funding it all. And the money should be directed to improving teachers welfare and the learning environment for pupils,” the lawmaker asserted.
Twaweza executive director Aidan Eyakuze said to ensure education quality for primary schools, teachers salaries needed to be improved, and their numbers increased in school.
He said major reforms to address the challenge of teaching for learning have yet to be spelt out despite the implementation of the Primary Education Development Program (PEDP) for at least 10 years.
“It is very encouraging that education is a priority for the Magufuli administration, (but) we must all make sure we take a critical look at the evidence of what works to deliver learning when children are in school”, Eyakuze said.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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