Academic snobbery is not good for TZ’s future

Having a degree in education has been perceived by many as a lot for the weak in mind – the academic underdogs. If one did not find a slot in the university to study ‘lofty’ degree courses, especially if they are men, they settled, albeit reluctantly to playing the second fiddle as teachers.

Science courses such as engineering or medicine are considered to be for the ‘brainy’ lot while other humanitarian courses are seen as for the weaklings. Similarly, those who did not make it to Form Five consider teaching as their last option. Apparently, teachers’ adaptability to other careers is an aspect that isn’t appreciated.

In my experience, being a trained teacher makes it easier for me to work in different fields than any other profession I know of. For instance, before working as a journalist, I had temporary jobs as a banker, teacher, writer and translator, thanks to my education degree. Instead of having a myopic view of things, a degree in education broadens one’s philosophy.

Critical thinking (and philosophy), sociology, educational psychology, pedagogy, curricular studies to name but a few make educators tower above the rest of the careers. It can be argued that the founding father of this nation - Mwalimu Julius Nyerere - towered above the rest in putting things together by articulating and exhibiting candid thoughts because he was by nature a teacher.

In realising the importance of educators, the government has come up with strategies of training more educators in higher education institutions. The University of Dodoma has the capacity to enroll a whopping 15,000. It is for the same reason that Dar es Salaam College of Education is exclusively for educators. Indeed, many colleges have been ‘elevated’ to offer degree courses in education. This translates into the country having a brighter future. Any country that neglects educators is doomed to perpetual retrogression, not only in the level of education but in other fields as well.

Teaching as we know is not teaching – it is much more complicated than that. A teacher is a participant, an observer and a performer at the same time.

Establishing an interpretation that would be intelligible for students is perhaps not one of the easiest tasks as it is thought. For those who have taught, it is true that it is a nerve-wrecking and energy draining experience. Being under multiple simultaneous role demands defines a teacher’s life. Teachers are also learners.