Scholarship offer for Form 4

Scholarship offer for Form 4 Science ‘stars’ with teaching call

The Tanzania Ministry for Education and Vocation Training has announced it will provide scholarships to Form Four leavers with a Division One ranking in science subjects who will enrol themselves for the diploma in teaching course. The offer was made public by the Deputy Minister for Education and Vocational Training, Ms Jenista Mhagama, at a public rally here addressed by President Jakaya Kikwete. She said the ministry will also offer a full loan package for last year’s Form Four leavers with Division Two and Three who specialized in science subjects. Ms Mhagama, who is also Peramiho MP in the region, said the move is aimed at addressing the shortage of science teachers in public schools. The deputy minister’s announcement comes almost three days after President Kikwete expressed the government’s intention to bring changes in the education sector in which graduates will be teaching in primary schools. Ms Mhagama said there are 4,000 students currently taking their education degree course at the University of Dodoma (UDOM) and other 30 teacher training colleges countrywide. She reported that the government has decided to set up a special programme to fill in the gap of science teachers among public schools as part of its objectives to improve the education sector. “We have managed to address the shortage of teachers in other subjects and the only challenge remaining is for science teachers. But we are on the right track in addressing this too,” Ms Mhagama noted. She was optimistic that the shortage will end since the government is committed to ending the problem and ensuring that the students are well trained in all fields. On Sunday, President Kikwete announced massive changes in the education sector, which will see degree holders teaching in primary schools. He said the programme was expected to take off in a year’s time under which first degree holders would be offered teaching jobs in primary schools to improve the education sector. The president said the move is aimed at taking education to higher levels, adding that in the developed world; even nursery school teachers have degrees. He said the country was experiencing positive changes in the performance of ward secondary schools compared to the past