PRIME Minister Mr Kassim Majaliwa has commended the contribution of Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) in provision of social services especially in education and health sector.
He said in supporting the government’s efforts to provide social services to the people, ELCT has a number of projects countrywide, which include schools and hospitals so as to improve the citizens’ livelihoods.
The Premier said in the education sector, ELCT has a total of 469 nursery schools, 10 special education institutions for students with disability (special needs), 61 secondary schools, 35 Teacher and Vocation Colleges as well as two universities worth praise.
On the health sector, Mr Majaliwa said the church has one referral hospital, 23 hospitals, 140 health centres, 11 orphanages and one centre for the elders, which contribute to 15 per cent of the entire country’ health services provision.
The statement was made on his behalf by Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development, Dr Angelina Mabula on Sunday in Mwanza, when gracing the fund-raising event for the construction of another primary school worth 2.3bn/-.
At the event organised by the ELCT Diocese of Lake Victoria, Dr Mabula said the ongoing construction of the education infrastructures will include schools-being vital to ensure that all children acquire quality education, adding that the new school will address challenges such as ignorance and strengthen the students’ spiritual nourishments for present and future national development.
Elaborating, she urged parents to ensure all children including girls complete their studies, noting that the girl-child should not abuse the opportunity.
She further said that even those who have fallen pregnant and would opt to study again should take the advantage of government permission for them to return school, adding that the situation should not be abused to mean becoming pregnant again, noting that it’s the responsibility of parents to ensure students stay disciplined during studies.
“The sixth-phase government prioritises building boarding secondary schools to prevent risks relating to students becoming pregnant and dropping out of school…every child must be protected to get quality education,” Dr Mabula said.
Additionally, she urged religious institutions among others as development stakeholders to increase efforts on fighting emerging moral decay including laziness, drug abuse and same sex relationships that undermine social security and national development. She said such acts are a threat to humanity and dignity.
For his part, ELCT Diocese of Lake Victoria Bishop, Andrew Gulle commended the government for supporting the church, and allowing it to undertake different projects of significance to people centred development in line with the target of improving the living standard of all people.
The fund-raising event that kicked off after the Sunday Mass resulted in to collection of nearly 120m/- that will be used for the construction of a new primary day and boarding school namely Imani Cathedral School at Ilemela District, Mwanza Region.
