Distribution of books and desks bought with radar money begins
13th November 2013.
Speaking during the launch of a website to monitor the distribution, the Deputy PS said work started in June this year and that the PM’s Office was given the responsibility of ensuring that the textbooks met the required standards, while PricewaterhouseCoopers was given the task to oversee the expenditure of the money.
“The bidding was announced in March last year with nine publishing companies being awarded the tender to print and distribute the textbooks,” he noted.
The companies are Educational Books Publishers L, Longhorn Publishers (T) Ltd), Ujuzi Books, Ben and Company, Jadida Bookhouse (T) Ltd, E and D Vision Publishing (Ltd).
Others are Best Deal Publishers, Mture Educational Publishers and Mkuki na Nyota Publishers.
“These companies are in different stages of printing, and distributing the textbooks,” he said.
He said a total of 19,415,386 textbooks will be distributed in 16,000 primary schools in the country, adding that they include teachers' guides, syllabi and syllabi guides to help improve teaching skills.
Samataba said 75 percent of the total £29.5m (about 75bn/-) will be spent on purchasing textbooks while 25 percent will be spent on procuring desks and other administrative issues.
On the quality of textbooks, Samataba said the government has inspected them and found the errors contained in them cannot hinder students from using them.
“There are no books which are error-free, but what we have done was to check whether they distorted the message. If we see the need of coming up with other editions we will do so,” Samataba said.
He said disbursement of the money set aside for desks was delayed because they had to agree on the kind of desks they wanted.
“We announced the tender last month and a number of companies have applied… currently a panel of experts is in Dodoma evaluating the tender,” he said.
Department for International Development Deputy Head, Ros Cooper said the UK government is very tough on issues relating to corruption, that is why the court ordered the money to be refunded to Tanzania.
She said they involved different stakeholders like Data Vision International to prepare the website so as to monitor the distribution of textbooks.
“Through this website the process will be transparent and the information will reach many people,” she said.
Statistics and Research Manager Data Vision International, William Kihula said the website will allow involvement of education stakeholders to make follow up on the distribution of textbooks and desks.
He said among other things, the website will enable follow ups of publishers in each region and allow people to send their views and feedback concerning the process through SMS which will go direct to the website.
In March last year, Tanzania and Britain agreed to put to good cause the £29.5m (about 75bn/-) which was refunded from the controversial radar purchase from UK’s BAE Systems.
It was agreed that the money be used to buy textbooks for all 16,000 primary schools in the country and to provide all 175,000 primary school teachers with guides, syllabi and syllabi guides to help improve their teaching skills.
At least £5m was disbursed to purchase desks for primary schools in nine districts where the need for investment in education was considered significant.
The procurement process was agreed to be rigorously and independently monitored to ensure the monies are used solely for the benefit of Tanzanians.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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