DAR ES SALAAM: THE Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) has announced that it will provide full sponsorship to secondary school students who won four bronze medals at the Pan African Mathematics Olympiads (PAMO) 2024.
The competition took place at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.
At a press conference in Dar es Salaam over the weekend, TCRA Director General Dr Jabiri Bakari emphasised the Authority’s commitment to advancing Tanzania’s digital capabilities.
He noted that TCRA’s support for the students included covering their return airfare from Dar es Salaam to South Africa.
Tanzania achieved third place out of 27 participating countries at PAMO 2024, securing four bronze medals in the competition held from August 13 to 20, 2024.
Dr Bakari explained that this sponsorship is part of TCRA’s broader initiative to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education.
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He highlighted that STEM skills are crucial for building a technologically proficient society and advancing digital systems.
The TCRA Director General announced that the Authority will cover all academic expenses for the students involved in the competition, who are currently pursuing their secondary education. This includes Zakaria Mataiga Mwita from Azania High School and Stella Ludan Maliti from Marian Girls High School.
Dr Bakari encouraged students and scholars to embrace STEM fields, which lay a strong foundation for expertise and innovation in information technology.
The PAMO competition in Tanzania is organised by the Mathematical Association of Tanzania (MAT), based at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM). The 2024 competition saw participation from secondary school students across Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar.
The students who won the bronze medals include Ambrose Rutashobya from Iyunga Technical Secondary School, Ilham Abdalla Awadhi from Feza, Zanzibar, Arab Said Mbwana from Lumumba Secondary School, Zanzibar, Stella Maliti from Marian Girls High School and Zakaria Mwita from Azania High School.
TCRA encourages students at all educational levels, from kindergarten through university, to engage in digital clubs to develop IT skills and enhance their understanding of digital issues. The Authority also provides free resources such as Frequency, Number and the National Domain (.tz) to communication system designers addressing various societal challenges.
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Dr Said Sima, Chairman of the Tanzania Mathematical Association (MAT-CHAHITA), noted that this is the first time Tanzania has won four bronze medals in the competition, a significant achievement given the country’s historical performance.
Dr Sima praised the competition for inspiring a greater appreciation for mathematics among students and encouraged them to overcome any apprehensions about the subject.
Speaking in Dar es Salaam, the students expressed gratitude to TCRA for their support and urged other governmental and private organisations to follow TCRA’s example in fostering a society empowered by ICT and digital systems.
