The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Science and Technology, Prof Carolyne Nombo expressed admiration for the student projects showcased at the Young Scientists in Tanzania exhibition
Dar es Salaam. The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, has praised the exceptional quality of innovations developed by secondary school students, particularly in Artificial Intelligence (AI), describing them as a sign of transformative progress in Tanzania.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Science and Technology, Prof Carolyne Nombo expressed admiration for the student projects showcased at the 15th national exhibition of Young Scientists in Tanzania (YST).
“I have seen remarkable student projects in science and AI that signify a major positive shift for Tanzania,” she said in a speech read on her behalf by Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) Executive Secretary, Prof Charles Kihampa.
She noted that noted that some student innovators have already received scholarships to study locally and abroad.
She added that the initiative helps challenge outdated perceptions that our education system is of low standard and that science subjects are too difficult.” Prof Nombo highlighted the professional calibre of the students’ work, comparing it favourably with innovations presented at higher-level exhibitions.
“When I look at the level of these projects, I see no difference from professional exhibitions. These are secondary school students, yet their work is outstanding and comparable to that of experts,” she said.
She called for continued strategic investment in education, particularly through institutions such as the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (Costech), to nurture young talent. “We need to continue implementing strategies, especially in higher education.
Costech can help advance the skills of these young people. I also noted a strong focus on using AI to interpret data for agriculture, business, education, and other sectors. This technology simplifies work and reduces costs,” she added.
YST co-founder, Dr Gozbert Kamugisha, said the featured projects were selected from student innovators across the country.
“Several scientific projects were submitted, but budget constraints limited how many we could showcase. We are preparing to expand the competition each year by seeking more sponsors,” he said.
