Mwinyi wants policy, curriculum review to enhance development 

Mwinyi wants policy, curriculum review to enhance development

ZANZIBAR President, Dr Hussein Mwinyi has directed the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training to collaborate with key stakeholders to improve education policy and curriculum in order to promote economic growth.

He said that the changes should also correspond with implementation of the blue economy agenda.

“As we review the policy and curriculum… we have to focus on education outcomes, to enable us to move forward,” Dr Mwinyi said in his speech which was read on his behalf by First Vice-President Othman Masoud Othman during the climax of the 58th anniversary of Free Education Day (FED).

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He said that reforms in education should aim at preparing young people to qualify for self-employment, to be employable and fit the growing competitive market including in the blue economy.

He said the eighth phase government is determined to ensure th that marine resources benefits all Zanzibaris instead of relying only on government employments.

President Mwinyi said the ongoing reforms also include implementation of a project dubbed “Skills Development for Youth Employability” in the Blue Economy” aimed at strengthening the education sector which will provide young people with expertise in the blue economy market.

He further said that the project will be implemented in all vocational training centres across the country.

President Mwinyi said his government will ensure that education opportunities are available in many areas of the islands of Unguja and Pemba by improving infrastructure and facilities for learning and teaching.

He said the review of the 2006 Education Policy is under a special task force to advice on important reforms in the education sector.

“Despite some challenges, Zanzibar has made admirable development in 58 years of free education including increased number students, schools, universities, and graduates, without discrimination,” he said.

Dr Mwinyi said that, the 1964 revolution followed by declarations of ‘Free Education Policy’ by the First President of Zanzibar the late Abeid Amani Karume, has brought equality in acquiring education and enabling poor children to get education.

He noted that before the Revolution Zanzibar had one preparatory school with 60 students, 62 primary schools with 24,334 students and five Secondary schools with 1,038 students where currently at 58 years, preparatory schools have increased to 253 s with 95,613 students.

Dr Mwinyi said the statistics also show that there are 577 primary education schools with 360,330 students and 228 secondary schools with 117,759 students, while there are four universities with 12,527 students among them, one of which is the government.

He further said that currently the government is finalising the construction of 11 schools in Unguja and Pemba through the IMF Covid-19 relief funds which include the construction of 1,131 classrooms, 1,693 toilets and purchase of 4,026 desks along with repairs to 25 schools.

 

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