MP proposes privatisation of government English-medium schools
Special Seat legislator Taska Mbogo speaks in parliament during a debate session in Dodoma yesterday. PHOTO | MERCIFUL MUNUO
What you need to know:
- The Special Seats legislator says she does not understand why there were schools demanding parents to pay fees if the government's policy was fee-free education
Dar es Salaam. Special Seat Member of Parliament (MP) Taska Mbogo yesterday proposed the privatisation of English-medium schools owned by district councils and municipalities to avoid classes in the provision of education.
She issued the proposal in Parliament when debating the Sh10.1 trillion 2024/25 budget of the President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG).
Tabling the budget in Parliament, PO-RALG minister Mohamed Mchengerwa said the budget will constitute Sh6.71 trillion in recurrent expenditure and Sh3.415 trillion allocated for the implementation of development projects.
“Out of the Sh3.41 trillion budgeted for development expenditure, Sh2.26 trillion will be sourced internally, while the remaining Sh1.15 trillion will come from foreign sources,” said the minister.
Debating the PO-RALG budget, Ms Mbogo said the presence of schools contravenes the country’s free education policy as it creates classes among Tanzanians.
She said councils and municipalities that have established and operate English-medium schools mean the government is now doing business through the education sector.
“This is because these schools are paid for the service that was supposed to be provided for free. Also, not all citizens have the ability to pay for their children,” she told Parliament.
“If there is a need to efficiently teach English, why shouldn’t emphasis be paid to all schools across the country?” he questioned.
She said the schools use government teachers, questioning why teachers who are paid by the government should be used in such schools, which are referred to as councils or municipalities’ investments.
“On top of that, the best teachers are the ones targeted. My opinion is that the best teachers should be posted to schools across the country for all Tanzanian students to benefit,” she said.
“Honourable deputy speaker, these schools will establish classes in Tanzania. There are classes of children who have and those who don’t. These classes, honourable deputy speaker, will be made by us (MPs),” he said.
Ms Mbogo reiterated that if the government’s policy was fee-free education, then she did not see the reason for the presence of schools requiring parents to pay for fees.
“Councils and municipalities that have established these schools should privatise them for the private sector to operate because the government doesn’t do business,” suggested the lawmaker. Furthermore, she revealed the severe shortage of teachers, insufficient desks, and toilet pits in most schools in Mpanda District, Katavi Region, calling for the government’s immediate intervention.
Other legislators unveiled the need for the disbursement of funds for the completion of school and healthcare buildings, as well as the rehabilitation of road infrastructure damaged by floods caused by prevailing rainfall.
Mr Selemani Zedi (Bekene MP-CCM) said PO-RALG should look for funds to specifically complete the construction of buildings in the education sector to complement citizens’ efforts and encourage their volunteering spirit.
“Emergency funds should also be disbursed to revitalise infrastructure damaged by ongoing rainfall,” he said.
Ms Agnes Hokororo (Special Seats MP-CCM) said the Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency’s (Tarura) budget should focus on the restoration of disrupted transport infrastructure.
“The focus should aim at connecting the roads with agriculture to increase the sector’s contribution to the country’s development,” she said.
Dr Angeline Mabula (Ilemela MP-CCM) urged the government to review and adopt better land use by considering aerial buildings.
“In connection with that, land owned by individuals was acquired during the construction of the ward’s secondary schools. It is high time now that all uncompensated citizens are paid,” she suggested.
Mr Francis Mtinga (Iramba East-CCM) urged the government to review administrative borders and split the largest areas of jurisdiction to ease governance and the provision of services.
“The decision will also ease the provision of services to citizens and share development from President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration,” he said. Furthermore, he said it is high time that village leaders who significantly play an important role in the implementation of development projects are considered through the provision of allowances.
