Z’bar to have vocational college in every district
ZANZIBAR: ZANZIBAR government has embarked on construction of five modern vocational training collages in efforts to attain its ambitious plan to have such institutions in every district.
Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa revealed that on Wednesday, after laying a foundation stone for construction of Muungano Primary School in Urban District, Urban West Region in Zanzibar. The laying of the foundation stone is part of the activities to mark 60 years of the Zanzibar Revolution which climaxes today.
He informed that the Zanzibar government under the leadership of President Hussein Mwinyi has started the construction of the colleges adding that the completion of the work will fulfil the government plan of having such institutions in every district.
The PM said the construction of the colleges forms part of the government’s efforts to ensure that all youth are equipped with knowledge and expertise to help them to overcome competition in the labour market within and outside the country especially in the Blue Economy field.
Commenting on the construction of the school, the Premier said the school will have 41 classrooms which will cost 6.1bn/- upon completion.
Majaliwa further directed the contractor executing the project which commenced in May 2023 and is expected to be completed on in April 2024 to make sure that the work is completed as planned and at agreed standards.
” This work must be completed by April this year, when planning for the project we also agree the timeframe for its execution, therefore, this work must be accomplished on time,” Majaliwa said.
He added: “I would like to commend Dr Mwinyi for the great work in upholding the revolution objectives and Chama Cha Mapinduzi election manifesto. He is a wise and hardworking leader who is working for his people.
Majaliwa said that “every citizen is a witness of the great developmental changes which have been recorded in Zanzibar within a short time, besides such improvements in various sectors including education, Dr Mwinyi has also upheld unity, solidarity, peace and harmony in Zanzibar and Tanzania at large.”
He said such development has been a catalyst for implementing various activities aimed at bringing development to the people. “I pray to God to grant him good health so that he can serve his citizens better, these are the real objectives of revolution.”
For her part, Minister for Education and Vocational Training Lela Muhamed Mussa said, in a period of 60 years of Revolution, Zanzibar has registered tremendous success in education sector including increasing budget for from 265.5bn/- 2021/2022 in 2021/ 2022 to 457.2bn/- in 2022/2023 equivalent 72.2 per cent.
She said the increased budget in Zanzibar is a demonstration of government commitment to improve education sector, noting that plans are underway to construct 25 storey schools buildings in the 2023/24 financial year in efforts aimed to improve education services.
Recently President Mwinyi said that the ongoing reforms in the education sector are paying off as the island is closer to attaining 45 students per classroom target.
Dr Mwinyi made the remarks after opening another modern secondary building at Mwembeladu area in Zanzibar.
The 39-classroom new school named ‘Tumekuja’ is a symbol of success in the education reforms, where even the performance in schools has admirably improved.
“We have a new school with a computer room, lab, library and toilets after abandoning the dilapidated ‘Tumekuja’ school in Stone Town.
Despite some people opposing the development, we are determined to continue and achieve our targets,” he said.
He told the enthusiastic gathering at the event that Zanzibar is on track to have five thousand classrooms to end double shifts for students, and also have efficiency in schools by ending congestion, “each classroom will have not more than 45 students.”
