Education policy under heavy criticism
Stakeholders say it is out of touch with reality
HEAVY
criticism has befallen the 2014 Education Policy that was launched last
year with critics faulting it as ‘no better than the ones that preceded
it’ and even deemed that ‘it cannot transform the education system.’
The criticism has been levied by the non-profit civil society
organisation HakiElimu on the occasion of releasing their analysis
report of the Education and Training Policy 2014 yesterday in Dar es
Salaam. According to the rights group, the policy is crippled by its
‘traditional framework’ and is ‘out of touch with the fast-changing
internet era.’
Presenting their report, former University of Dar es Salaam senior
lecturer Prof Suleman Sumra said the policy is silent on a number of key
issues that a pivotal to transforming the education sector.
“In a developing country like Tanzania that is enjoying a growing
economy yet suffers significant poverty, the education policy should
focus on the economy and poverty reduction,” he said.
He queried whether the policy is technical and built on evidence
and whether it politically feasible and financially realistic; “does it
have stakeholders consensus?” he inquired.
He said the policy is filled with general statements, as opposed to
the Education and Training Policy (ETP) of 1995 that he said was much
more detailed. “For example the ETP Policy statement is specific that a
child should enroll in primary school when he/she attains the age of 7
but the new Policy is general stating that a child should enroll in
primary school when he/she is between the age of 4 and 6 depending on
the development and ability of the child,” he cited.
Further, the analysis holds that the country’s poor quality of
education is the outcome of poor teaching and poor quality of teachers;
“but the 2014 policy is silent on qualifications required for a person
to become a teacher,” added Prof Sumra.
He said the Policy has also failed to address the question of
immediate changes that are necessary to ensure graduating students are
able to compete in the employment market.
“It is also silent on the strategies to take to ensure improved
teaching of science and technology in schools,” he went on to criticize.
On his part, HakiElimu Executive Director John Kalage said the
Policy does not exhibit any out of the box thinking and that it also
lacks strong strategies to implement the policy.
“The policy needs a clear statement on the medium of instruction
too and this should be for both private and public schools,” he advised.
He said to improve the quality of education there is need to
enhance teacher competences, motivation, supervision, increase
availability of teaching and learning materials as well as improvement
of the teaching and learning environment.
He said the education policy has to ensure that Tanzania is not
left behind by new techniques of production and technology. He urged the
government to come up with strong strategies to ensure universal access
to education by bridging the existing gap between the rich and the
poor.
The new Education and Training Policy replaces four previous
education policies, the Education and Training Policy (ETP 1995), the
Technical Education and Training Policy (1996), the National Higher
Education Policy (1997) and the information and communication technology
policy for primary education (2007).
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
