WB impressed by Arusha Tech progress

WORLD Bank Country Director Nathan Belete has commended the Arusha Technical College (ATC) for the progress it made in completing some of its infrastructural projects.

Mr Belete who toured the learning facility here on Friday, singled out praise to the college for striving to create a conducive learning environment to all.

He equally took note of the ongoing projects, saying they were in line with the World Bank’s mission of empowering young people to eventually contribute to its twin goals of ending poverty and investing in opportunity.

“I’m so delighted with what I’ve seen today, ATC is doing an impressive work in ensuring the youth reach their goals, which replicates the World Bank’s mission,” he said.

Mr Belete further assured that his office remains committed to promoting long-term economic development and poverty reduction by providing technical and financial support to help countries implement reforms or projects, such as building schools, providing water and

electricity, fighting disease, and protecting the environment.

The World Bank official, who visited a number of facilities at ATC, including the polyclinic, a girls’ hostel and the Ufundi Tower, observed that the projects implemented at the college serve as a bait of attracting investors to the country.

“I urge the college to remain focused in implementing such projects for the good of the country,” he remarked.

For his part, ATC rector Dr Musa Chacha, told the World Bank Country Director that the college will continue producing competent graduates capable of thriving in the ever demanding job market.

The Arusha-based college is currently implementing a number of projects including construction of a girls’ hostel, a 12-month project which kicked off in July 2021 with its completion was scheduled for October this year.

However, the hostel which upon its completion will have a capacity of accommodating 428 students, is currently at 41 per cent.

It is implemented through a Force Account payment method, through Arusha Technical College Production and Consulting Bureau (ATC-PCB).

ATC is also implementing another project in the form of Classrooms, Offices and Labs for the purpose of improving training services and staff working environment.

Dubbed the ‘Ufundi Tower’, the construction of the three-storey building started on January 27 this year after the Arusha-based college received 1.7bn/- in the form of Covid-19 funds.

A whopping 6.8bn/- was initially earmarked for the construction of the state-of-the-art structure, courtesy of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

The project however stalled until the Covid-19 funds came to the rescue.