Education stakeholders have been urged to focus on teaching and learning setbacks, brainstorm on practicable curriculum and education based solutions to fast track development in the community.
A Deputy Permanent Secretary (health); Regional Administration and Local Government, Dr Deodatus Mtasiwa, said in Dar es Salaam, during the official launching of the third intake of postgraduate diploma in curriculum design and development programme in Africa.
“It is important for you to apply the knowledge and skills you acquire without forgetting to disseminate it to others as much as you can,” said Dr Mtasiwa.
Dr Mtasiwa further added that even if the participants will not be directly involved in the policy formulation, their technical advice is crucial as they will be playing the role of noble professionals committed to personal and national development.
He further said that for years in Africa and other continents in the world curriculum design and development had not been accorded its due position and attention as it has been taught apparently as a component of some programmes.
According to Dr Mtasiwa, the government recognises the efforts made by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), The Open University of Tanzania (OUT) and Tanzania Institute of Education (TIE) for establishing the programme as a specialised course in 2011.
He added, “The third intake of the programme is a sign that we are indeed going to establish yet another phase of producing competent curriculum experts who will generate quality curriculum and ensure the delivery of quality education to support development.”
According to available reports, the programme is gaining popularity and its demand growing across continents day by day and the number of students is likely to double from around 50 in 2011 and 2012 to about 100 this year.
Dr Mtasiwa also said that it is crucial for stakeholders starting with the countries and their academic institutions particularly UNESCO, TIE and OUT, among others, to start laying down strategies for expansion and sustainability of the programme.
Earlier, Acting Director General for TIE, Dr Leonard Akwilapo, said that the course was jointly supported by UNESCO (IBE Division for Teacher Development and Higher Education), BREDA, IICBA) and OUT aimed to decrease the severity of the obstacle that affect curriculum design processes.
“The studies are based on the objectives set out in the Basic Education Africa Programme (BEAP), which was a UNESCO- supported initiative for Africa, that sought to support a holistic and comprehensive reform of basic education to assist countries in achieving education for all by 2015,” said Dr Akwilapo.
Dr Akwilapo further said that there are students from all over the world (and not only from African countries), including US, Russia and Finland.
By HILDA MHAGAMA, Tanzania Daily News
