ZANZIBAR, Maisara: THE Speaker of Zanzibar House of Representatives Zubeir Ali Maulid has urged students seeking higher education to make good use of the opportunities presented by the ongoing education fair at the Maisara grounds.
The weeklong fair has been organised by the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training in collaboration with higher learning Agents.
Speaking on behalf of the Second Vice-President Hemed Suleiman Abdulla, Speaker Maulid said the aim of the 4th exhibition is to help students follow the required procedures in searching genuine higher learning institutions, both local and global.
He said the higher education week brings together numerous education stakeholders who help the students to get access to quality education, services and payment/costs related to higher education.
The Speaker said the number of exhibitors at the fair has increased from 32 institutions in 2022 to 57 this year, proving that the fair is growing and gaining popularity.
“This is an admirable development and corresponds to good performance of Form IV and Form VI in national examinations. I urge students to seek advice from service providers present here,” Mr Maulid emphasised.
He said the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, led by President Dr Hussein Mwinyi, continues to create a better learning environment and access to education at all levels by increasing the budget of the higher learning loans board from 19.53bn/- in 2022/2023 which supported 1,800 students, to 29.05bn/- in 2023/2024 that will support 2,425 students.
“We are happy for the development because before the Revolution of 1964 few people were benefiting from higher education,” the Speaker said.
The Deputy Minister for Education and Vocational Training, Mr Ali Abdulghulam Hussein, said the higher education fair started in 2020 with only 17 institutions participating, but the number has grown to 57 institutions this year.
Some of the participating institutions include Zanzibar Higher Learning Loan Board, Global Education Link, Zanzibar School of Health, Zanzibar University, and State University of Zanzibar among others.
The deputy minister praised Union President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan and Dr Mwinyi for their efforts in improving the learning environment for students.
The Executive Director of Global Education links Mr Abdulmalk Mollel said his company was keen to ensure that every student is successful in joining universities of their choice anywhere in the world.
He expressed their readiness to help students who have been affected by the ongoing civil war in Sudan to find universities elsewhere so that they can continue with their education.
“We had 272 students who came from Ukraine and we managed to relocate them… this time we have 770 from Sudan, including 200 Sudanese. We must help them.”
