Govt commits toenhance teachers’ICTskills

ZANZIBAR: SECOND Vice President, Mr Hemed Suleiman Abdullah said yesterday that the government of Zanzibar and Tanzania mainland are committed to enhancing teachers’ skills through Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to align with the 21st-century educational advancements.

Mr Abdulla was speaking during the opening of the ‘Tanzania 2025 Research Conference’ at the Tourism Institute, State University of Zanzibar (SUZA).

Mr Abdulla represented Zanzibar President Hussein Mwinyi. He said that both governments are dedicated to strengthening teachers’ continuous professional development by providing ICTfocused training to equip them with modern teaching methodologies that enhance classroom efficiency.

Mr Abdulla highlighted the importance of research in tackling the shortage of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) teachers, urging education institutions and researchers, to conduct impactful studies on how the shortage affects students’ academic performance and to propose innovative solutions.

Moreover, Mr Abdullah stressed the need to modernize teaching approaches, align curricula with contemporary educational demands, and integrate climate change education, as a global concern, into learning systems.

Mr Hemed emphasized the necessity of schools with strong infrastructure and curricula connected to environmental sustainability, and ensuring that students develop the necessary skills and knowledge to address climate-related challenges.

He called for increased collaboration between the education sector, industries and vocational training institutions to create more employment opportunities for young people.

“We urge educational institutions to ensure that students gain practical skills that contribute to economic growth and social development,” said Mr Abdulla, pointing out the need for in-depth research to improve the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector.

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Zanzibar’s Minister of Education and Vocational Training, Ms Lela Mohamed Mussa, said that the conference would focus on vocational education, highlighting that in Zanzibar, vocational training has been integrated into the mainstream education system to equip youth with entrepreneurial skills, enabling them to create their own jobs instead of solely relying on government employment.

SUZA Vice Chancellor, Professor Mohamed Makame Haji, said that the conference aims to explore strategies to improve higher education by equipping teachers with advanced skills and interactive teaching methodologies.

He insisted that the conference provides a platform for researchers, scholars and education stakeholders to discuss the achievements and challenges facing the higher education sector and find viable solutions.

Professor Makame also highlighted SUZA’s collaboration with the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) and other educational stakeholders in strengthening research, promoting ICT integration, and implementing various programmes to ensure research findings are effectively utilized in different sectors.

The Commissioner for Education, Professor Lyabwene Mtahabwa, reaffirmed that the country’s education policy recognizes teachers as the backbone of educational success, as he emphasized the need to improve teachers’ welfare, professional development, and innovative teaching approaches to enhance learning outcomes.

The ‘Tanzania 2025 Research Conference’ serves as a crucial platform to shape the future of education in the country, focusing on ICT integration, vocational training, climate education, and industry collaboration to ensure a dynamic and progressive education system.