Ministry calls for community needs assessment in adult learning

MINISTRY of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) has urged experts in the field of Adult Learning and Education (ALE) to assess community needs and provide education accordingly, for the public to benefit from the programmes.

According to the ministry, if properly utilised, adult learning programmes can provide numerous opportunities to strengthen skills that will contribute to their socio-economic growth and sustained livelihoods.

The MoEST Acting Director of Basic Education, Mr Josephat Luoga, made the call on Thursday during the launch of Kibaha Community Learning Centre (CLC) at Mtambani Ward, Ruvu JKT Primary School in Kibaha, as part of commemorating International Literacy Week.

The CLC was funded by the Institute for International Cooperation of the ‘Deutscher Volkshochschul-Verband’ (DVV International) that translates to the German Adult Education Association.

“The 2022 census indicates an increasing trend in population, which has implications for both the formal and informal education systems that have to absorb more pupils, youths and adult learners and ultimately these people have to find livelihood opportunities,” he noted.

Adding: “We (the government) have made investments in these centres to provide education to those who did not receive it, taking into account their surroundings.”

He further urged the public to avoid people who spread misinformation about ALE and to understand that such education is vital for current and future development.

Moreover, he commended DVV International for providing support for the establishment and development of sustainable structures for youths and adult education in the country and the Kibaha community in particular.

Speaking about the development of adult education in Kibaha District Council, Kibaha District Commissioner Nickson Simon stated that, according to statistics, 800 people had enrolled in different CLC’s across the district.

“One-third of individuals in sub-Saharan Africa are estimated to be illiterate, while figures from Tanzania indicate that 20 per cent of the population is illiterate overall. Thus, the establishment of this CLC will be crucial,” he said.

He added that the centre will not only focus on useful reading but will also focus on other activities such as entrepreneurship, savings and loans and agricultural and health services that may be provided according to the adult learners’ needs. The main goal is to ensure the quality of society.

He noted that knowledge has no boundaries and that societies that value education will obviously develop.

The DVV International Regional Director, Mrs Frauke Heinze, said apart from celebrating International Literacy Week in Kibaha by sharing some key achievements in ALE and by launching the CLC, they are also dedicated to providing support for the establishment and development of sustainable structures for youths and adult education worldwide.

“As the leading professional organisation in the field of ALE and development cooperation, DVV International has committed itself to supporting lifelong learning for more than 50 years, aiming to fight poverty through education, lifelong learning and support for development,” she said.

According to her, DVV International has since launched and rolled out three community learning centres, Hogoro CLC in Kongwa and Chisalu CLC in Mpwapwa District and Mzenga CLC in Kisarawe, Coast Region.