TANZANIA: MORE THAN SH 20 BILLION SET ASIDE FOR TEXT BOOKS

Kilindi — THE government has set aside 21bn/- in the 2014/15 national budget to address the shortage of books in secondary schools.

President Jakaya Kikwete made the remarks when laying the foundation stone for the construction of a 135-million shilling laboratory at the ward level at Kimbe Secondary School in Kilindi District in Tanga Region.

Construction of the science lab, which will cater for physics, chemistry and biology practicals, started last year and 59m/- has already been spent on the projects, out of which 47.4m/- was public contribution, 12.5m/- from the council and the remaining amount from the central government.

Work on the laboratory is scheduled for completion in November. President Kikwete said the book budget has been increased by the central government to ensure that the shortage of books, also including those for mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology in secondary schools, especially ward level ones, becomes history.

"We have decided to increase the national budget set aside for books and the main objective is to reduce if not to completely address issue of lack of books and to improve the learning environment," he explained.

He said that the government's agenda after improving the learning environment is to ensure an increase of students taking science subjects in secondary schools.

It also seeks to ensure that wards get experts in different sectors, including health personnel and engineers who will help bring development in the wards and the nation in general. Mr Kikwete said the government recognised the challenge of lack of teaching staff houses.

Already 500m/- have been set aside for each council in the country to address the problem. "In recognition of importance of ward secondary schools, the government has set aside 500m/- for every council to construct teachers' houses, which will go towards improving working conditions for teachers and assurance of availability of them in schools," he said.

The Kilindi District Council Director, Mr Daudi Mayeji, giving a briefing on implementation of the national plan to address the shortage of laboratories, said his council has already acquired four mobile laboratories worth 10m/-.

Earlier, Kilindi MP Beatrice Shelukindo said the other problem facing her constituency is low prices for farm produce, especially maize, adding that one pail of maize sells at 2,400/-.

In response President Kikwete pledged that he will direct the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) to buy the maize in Kilindi District.