Offer orientation courses that reflect real life, universities urged
EDUCATION stakeholders and activists have urged institutions of higher learning to offer orientation courses that reflect real life in the institutions so as to help new comers avoid temptations that might prevent them from attaining their goals.
They made the proposal over the weekend, during the orientation courses to first year students at Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT) Mwanza Campus.
“The course should mostly focus on among others, financial management, gender issues, couples relationships as well as stress and conflicts management,” said Director for Kivulini non-governmental Organisation, Mr Yassin Ally.
“Unfortunately, the universities are currently offering geographical type of orientation, like showing library, offices, restaurants and hostel locations,” said Mr Ally.
He stressed on affairs’ education, since some students in relationships do seriously get stressed when they break-up and opt to quit studies due to lack of psychological problems management.
The Deputy Commissioner for Gender and Development issues in Tanzania Higher Learning Institutions Students` Organisation (TAHLISO), Ms Hawa Issa, commented that temptations in universities are seriously affecting female students.
A desire to have expensive properties, beyond their capacity, is among the reasons behind the situation, she said.
The Director for HakiZetu Organisation, Mr Gervas Evodius, said that some students do experience serious stress when their relations break down.
The Campus Director, Dr Albert Mmari, commented that apart from reflective orientation course, the Campus has introduced the Gender issue Management Unit, for especially counselling services to students, to enable them avoid any possible temptation that could affect their studies.
He insisted that the course was of importance, since students’ enrolment keeps increasing in every academic year.
The campus expects to have over 2,000 students, by 2024/25, from the current 200, after the on-going installation of modern infrastructures, he said.
