DAR ES SALAAM: THE Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has urged education stakeholders across the country to continue conducting productive studies for prosperity of the education sector in the country.
The remark was made recently in Dodoma by the ministry’s Deputy Permanent Secretary (Education), Dr Franklin Rwezimula when officiating at the launch of two researches conducted by a Non-Governmental Organisation HakiElimu.
The studies are Experience of the implementation of the Reintegrating Teenage Mothers into Formal Secondary Schools in Tanzania and the Political Economy of Early Childhood Development (ECD) in Mainland Tanzania.
“Given that the country has already begun implementing new curriculum and 2023 Education and Training Policy… it is obvious that more research will be required in order to enhance the way in which our education is provided,” Dr Rwezimula underlined.
However, he said the results of the studies will enable the government and education stakeholders to solve the exiting challenges in execution of re-entry policy and ECD programme.
“We are happy that HakiElimu has conducted a study on the implementation of re-entry guideline which gives teen mothers a second chance to return to school two years after giving birth. “This research will help us a lot in reviewing the information we have and monitoring how girls, communities, teachers and other stakeholders receive and use this important opportunity,” he said.
Adding: “I would like to assure HakiElimu and other stakeholders that we will use the results of these two studies to ensure that we exceed improving Early Childhood Development as well as girls’ education who returned to school after giving birth.” President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced to lift a ban for teen mothers returning to school one year after she assumed the presidency, a move that enable the targeted to return to school after giving birth.
Giving the opening remarks early, HakiElimu Executive Director, Dr John Kalage said the studies look in depth at the development and implementation of policies regarding the status and understanding of the ECD and identify loopholes and opportunities in the execution of re-entry policy.
“Despite the presence of re-entry policy and guidelines, its implementation still faces various challenges, including cultural, systemic and poor investment… these challenges affect both teen mothers and newborns,” Dr Kalage said.
In response to the study’s findings, the Executive Director of Msichana Initiative,Rebecca Gyumi called upon the concerted efforts between NGOs and government to increase public awareness about teen mothers to return to schools after giving birth.
“The government has already released the re-entry policy, but there are significant obstacles in putting it into practice, and in certain areas, individuals tasked with doing so are either unaware of their duties or are carrying them out in an improper manner,”she added.
