PM`s probe team on Form IV results unveil initial findings

BY SYLIVESTER DOMASA

21st March 2013

Prof Sifuni Mchome

The Commission formed by Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda to investigate the mass failure of last year’s Form Four examination has disclosed that most people interviewed in Dar es Salaam attributed the big disappointment to poor learning environment, shortage of teachers and limited budget for the education sector.

The Commission’s Chairman, Prof Sifuni Mchome revealed this yesterday in Dar es Salaam when updating reporters on the progress reached by the team.

Nevertheless, Prof Mchome said among the issues raised by education stakeholders as having played part in the mass failure, include the framework of the education sector. 

He said according to a cross-survey conducted by his team in various places in Dar es Salaam through public debates, consultations and collecting public opinions, it was learnt that both public and private schools encounter nearly the same challenges.

“The vast majority of people who gave their opinions weighed the mass failure on poor learning facilities, schools being far from homes and the teacher-student ratio,” he said.

Prof Mchome said up to this moment, the commission has met up with private schools’ owners, the association of heads of secondary schools, Tanzania Teachers Union (TTU), Regional Commissioners, members of school boards, EMAC, mayors, education officers and principals.

He said others are National Examination Council of Tanzania (NECTA), Tanzania Institute of Education (TIE) and education officers from other countries which he did not disclose.

According to Prof Mchome, the commission has also been assessing information obtained from other sources such as media outlets, the commission’s website, email address and phone number as well as its day-to-day operations.

The chairman further disclosed that members of the commission are currently in other regions doing the same task and are expected to be back in the city later this week.

“As for next week, we plan to be in Zanzibar … our goal is to collect enough data from samples that will enable the commission to identify significant challenges encountered by majority of schools in the country,” he said.

He noted that the point is not about going through each school.

Prof Mchome said the government formed a probe team that with a vision of seeing prosperity in the education sector for the benefit of students and the country at large, therefore he applauded the public for being cooperative.

Nevertheless, the Chairman said his commission will do what it takes to incorporate the prime ideas proposed by the appointed lawmaker and National Chairman for NCCR-Mageuzi, James Mbatia.

Earlier this month, the Premier appointed a probing team of 15 members to investigate the dismal performance, giving it six weeks to investigate the source of the disastrous fall in performances of the Ordinary Level examinations in the past three years.

According to the Prime Minister, the team will visit some of the best and poor performing schools, both government and private schools and interview some students as well.

President Jakaya Kikwete for his part, said the probe team will assume government’s efforts in addressing unfinished challenges in the education sector, adding that the state will continue giving education top priority until all major challenges are addressed.

In last year’s Form IV, six out of ten students who sat for national examinations scored Division Zero, that is a total of 240,903 students out of 397,126.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN