Time to have education that reflects Nyerere’s vision
AS part of efforts to fulfill the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere’s vision on education for self-reliance, the government is mulling over reviewing the education curricula towards obtaining skilled and competent graduates, who can contribute in the socio-economic development of the country.
As the country prepares to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere death on Friday, it evokes memories of the kind of education he wished the country ought to stand for.
Such memories surface at the moment when the country is in process of coming up with standard and modern education policy and curricula that will help to guide education provision from lower to top level.
Mwalimu Nyerere on various occasions was quoted saying: “Ideas imparted by education or released in the minds through education should therefore, be liberating ideas. Skills acquired by education should be liberating skills and nothing else.”
According to Mwalimu, education should not only be about acquiring a certificate, but rather be able to revolutionise the minds of people to embark on major transformations in their own societies.
“Education that leads to a piece of paper and not a revolution or a change of culture is relevant to nothing. Teachers must be able to educate people in the wake of bringing changes to the face of Africa.”
The founding father of the nation suggested that the country should consider why education was important and what it should be doing to the people of this country.
Commenting on commemoration, Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Dr Francis Michael, said this is the way forward.
At the occasion organised by the Mwalimu Nyerere Memorial Academy in Dar es Salaam, yesterday as part of its annual events that, Dr Michael further said that time has come for the country to shift from creating graduates, who are only job seekers to skilled and competent individuals- a fulfillment of Mwalimu’s vision in promoting its socio-economic development.
“Quality education is what will help Tanzania to move from where it is now, a move which enables the country to fulfill its development vision and aspirations,” he pointed out.
Elaborating, the Permanent Secretary said the move was in line with the aspiration of the government led by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who is making efforts to support the initiative by injecting huge funds in the sector to make it possible.
In the course, he noted that the ministry was currently in the process of reviewing the country’s education curricula and they were currently collecting views from key stakeholders and Tanzanians in general to meet the goal.
Explaining that the theme for the conference “The Legacy of Mwalimu Nyerere in improving human welfare and socio-economic development” it is of particular relevance to Tanzania, considering that President Samia was a true believer as she strives to transform the socio-economic environment of the country.
“About 30 papers will be presented to articulate the philosophies of Mwalimu Nyerere in promoting socio-economic development as well as contributing to the national policy frameworks in forming solutions for tackling the aforementioned challenges for a path to sustainable development.
Earlier, the Principal of the Mwalimu Nyerere Memorial Academy, Prof Shadrack Mwakalila, disclosed that the conference was aimed at addressing four sub-themes namely ignorance as an enemy of socio-economic development, initiatives for poverty alleviation, diseases management for improving well-being and leadership in the fight against ignorance, poverty and diseases.
Prof Mwakalila said the conference will inspire ideas and discussions on the ways which will make the country to sustainably develop with much attention to human welfare as historically emphasised by the late father of the nation.
“It’s critical to note that commemorating the passing of Mwalimu Nyerere should be done by implementing his legacies,” he pointed out.
