EDITORIAL: Heed dialogue call to enhance democracy
The chairman of the Tanzania Centre for Democracy (TCD), Mr James Mbatia, has warned that the ongoing political polarisation in Tanzania does not augur well for the country’s future wellbeing.
Generally, ‘political polarisation’ refers to a situation in which an individual’s ‘position’ on a given issue, policy or whatever is more likely to be defined by the individual’s identification with a particular political party or ideology – e.g.: ‘liberal’ or ‘conservative’ ideology.
It is in this regard that Mr Mbatia called for a national dialogue that would lead to, and result in, a consensus on how best to manage different aspects of the nation’s life – including quality education.
Speaking in an exclusive interview at the Dar es Salaam Headquarters of Mwananchi Communications Limited – publishers of The Citizen, Mwananchi and Mwanaspoti – the TCD chairman took issue with Tanzania’s education system.
In his view, the current education modality makes it difficult for Tanzania to attain Goal Number-4 of the UN-backed Year-2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs-2030).
Goal Number-4 has 10 targets that encompass different aspects of education. Seven of the targets are the expected outcomes, while the other three are the means of achieving those outcomes.
Very briefly, Goal Number-4 seeks to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education that promotes lifelong learning opportunities for all.
On the whole, education for sustainable development must ensure that, by 2030, all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development.
This can be done through education for sustainable quality lifestyles; the upholding of human rights and gender equality; promotion of a culture of peace, non-violence and global comradeship, as well as appreciation of cultural diversity and its contribution to sustainable socio-econo-political development.
Remove discrimination in provision of education
In specifically analysing Tanzania’s Education, Mr Mbatia categorically stated that the country’s education system was built on discriminatory foundations.
This made it extremely difficult to impart top-quality education upon learners from long ago.
Noting that the Education minister has for all practical purposes been the ‘Alpha and Omega’ of all issues pertaining to Education in Tanzania, Mr Mbatia stresses that no single person should alone give weighty directives on matters educational.
Sound decisions can only be reached based upon comprehensive, transparent policy and regulatory frameworks – and should invariably be arrived at through broad-based consultations involving different people, different institutions.
Mr Mbatia also faults educational textbooks published by the Tanzania Institute of Education as being full of assorted errors. More often than not, the books are then withdrawn – only to be replaced with new ones that are just as full of errors!
TCD comprises political parties which are represented in Parliament, including the veteran ruling party CCM.
As the Democracy Centre’s chairman – never mind that he is also an elected MP and national chairman of the opposition NCCR-Mageuzi party – Mr Mbatia can safely be said to represent a broad, nation-wide socio-political spectrum ranging from the party in power since Independence to the political opposition.
As such, his views carry considerable weight and should be heeded.
