Tanzania reaches out to Japan for teachers, books

President Jakaya Kikwete with President of Japan international Cooperation Agency (JICA) Dr. Akihiko Tanaka.

Tanzania has turned to Japan asking the latter to avail mathematics and science teachers in a bid to curb the country of its major shortage of teachers of these subjects.

In addition, Tanzania has Japan to step in the publication science and mathematics books on in order to ensure that each student has a copy of textbook as a way to increase the quality of education.

The request was made on Monday in Yokohama Japan when President, Jakaya Kikwete met and held talks with the President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Dr Akihiko Tanaka as released in a statement sent by Directorate of Presidential Communications.

President Kikwete is in Japan for a seven-day tour and he has so far attended the Fifth Tokyo Conference on African Development (TICAD) and is expected to leave Japan tomorrow morning for an official visit to Singapore for a two day visit before returning home.

The president told Dr Tanaka that one of the biggest challenges facing the education sector, which has expanded greatly in the last seven years, is the lack of mathematics and science teachers.

“There are two items I ask of JICA. We lack of teachers sufficient mathematics and science teachers and the deficit is over 26,000, our colleges can provide only 2,200 graduates per year, at that rate, it will take us 12 years to fill the gap, that is too long. So, we ask JICA and Japan in general, to step in and help us, “said President Kikwete
“A part from lack of teachers for these subjects, I would like to also call on Japan through JICA to help our country in publishing science and mathematics books as another contribution towards improving our education," he added.

President Kikwete admitted to receiving strong support from the US government in printing of textbooks for secondary schools but the need remains great if the country is to secure better quality of education.

Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, has already agreed to step up to the challenge and provide teachers to cover the said subjects.

Dr. Tanaka also answered to the affirmative stating that JICA is focusing on the development of the education sector in Tanzania and noted that so far, of 70 volunteers sent to Tanzania from Japan 20 are mathematics and science teachers.

“We will look into this area closely and take appropriate measures, we will look at how we can increase the number of teachers from our volunteers to teach in Tanzania every year” pledged Dr Tanaka.

Public urged to extend more assistance to cancer patients

Real Insurance chief executive officer, Stephen Okundi

A Call has been made for individuals, companies and institutions to extend support to cancer patients, a positive gesture which health stakeholders said could help to improve and prolong their lifespan.

The call was made by Real Insurance chief executive officer Stephen Okundi at a special function held over the weekend when the company donated food and other domestic supplies to cancer patients admitted at the Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI) in Dar es Salaam.

In recognition to the need for humanitarian support to patients, the company’s management has made an impassionate appeal to players in the private sector to cultivate the culture of supporting cancer patients, saying the gesture could bring sigh of relief to the sick people.

The latest donation was part of the company’s long-term social corporate responsibility strategy, designed to assist patients and other vulnerable social groups in need of assistance in Tanzania, according to Okundi.

Among other items given to Ocean Road cancer patients include bags of rice, beans, sugar, flour, cooking oil, tooth paste with a total value of more than 3m/-.

“We are doing this not because the company is rich but we feel and understand the obligation to assist the needy - cancer patients, who also need both moral and material supports from the community. This kind of support can even speed up their recovery,” Okundi said.

He made an appeal to other corporate companies, organisations, investors and individuals to emulate the spirit by extending a helping hand to patients suffering from long illnesses.

Quoting documented medical research studies, Okundi said: “Currently, there are many patients in Tanzania dying not because they have not received proper treatment, but because they lack encouragement and timely support from the community.”

“Therefore, everybody is duty-bound to take good care of patients, by giving them both moral and material supports they need. We should not leave this task to the government alone,” Okundi advised.

Speaking after receiving the donation, the Ocean Road Hospital’s social worker officer, Nicolas Mshana, expressed profound appreciation for the contribution from Real Insurance company ltd, which he said would make patients feel good knowing that society remembers them.

“Some patients have stayed long in the hospital. They absolutely need this kind of support. The generous act has set a good example and sense of care to the needy. It reminds other generous groups of their noble obligation to care for others,” Mshana remarked.

He further said that the government had invested a lot in general operations of the Ocean Road Cancer Institute; including the installation of modern facilities for high-class treatment.

He said: “it was unfair to continue pressing the government to provide other minor essentials which the community, business companies, individuals can equally do,” he asked.