Queries over teacher readiness ahead of new subject combinations

Dar es Salaam. Questions about teacher preparedness are arising concerning the government’s decision to introduce more subject combinations for students who are set to join the advanced secondary school level this year.

In a move aimed at providing students with a broader array of choices, the government announced on Wednesday the expansion of subject combinations for students from 16 to 60.

This decision, according to the government, was grounded in the vision and opinions of many Tanzanians to allow students to find their niche in accordance with their performance in the Certificate of Secondary Education Examinations (CSEE).

Speaking on behalf of the government, the Minister of State in the President's Office for Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), Mr Mohammed Mchengerwa, highlighted the government's preparedness to implement this ambitious plan.

He stated, "The government, through PO-RALG and the Ministry of Education, has adequately prepared, and one of the plans is to employ 11,000 teachers starting next month. These will go to areas where there is a shortage of teachers for some of these specialties."

Mr Mchengerwa was speaking in an interview during his visit to the head office of Mwananchi Communication Limited (MCL) in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

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However, concerns have been raised regarding the readiness of teachers to effectively impart knowledge in these new combinations.

An education expert, Dr Kuruthum Kaiza, expressed her apprehension, stating, "Every profession evolves, so stakeholders need to continue learning on the job, but how many of our teachers have been trained in teaching various sports in the sports slot?"

Dr Kaiza stressed the importance of adequately preparing teachers for their roles, suggesting that the government should prioritise the training of sports experts to ensure the quality of education in specialised fields.

She added, "Why should we be in a hurry with things that will affect our children's entire lives?"

Echoing similar sentiments, a head teacher, who preferred to remain anonymous, highlighted the existing challenges within the teaching profession.

"As we add specialties, we must remember that there are teachers who don't even have the ability to teach their own subjects, meaning they need continuous professional development,” he stated.

Despite these concerns, the government has assured the public of its commitment to addressing the issues of teacher readiness and teacher scarcity.

Mr Mchengerwa outlined the government's strategy, stating, "One of the strategies we have is to ensure that these 11,000 jobs increase not only the number but also the provision of digital education, where one teacher can teach in more than 100, 200, or even 500 schools."

Moreover, the government plans to introduce internship programmes for graduating teachers to gain skills and experience before entering the workforce.

Mr Mchengerwa insisted on the importance of this initiative, stating, "By doing so, it will help reduce the shortage of teachers and provide opportunities for aspiring teachers to gain skills and experience."

While some experts remain sceptical about the readiness of teachers to handle the new combinations, others commend the government's efforts. A retired teacher and education expert, Dr Ayub Bushini, praised the move but cautioned against haste.

He said, "For students, this is a great opportunity because now they can decide what to study based on their performance, but on the side of the trainers, there are still problems despite the government claiming to be prepared."

Dr Bushini underlined the need for thorough preparation to ensure the quality of education in specialised fields. "You cannot be taught to sing by a teacher who has never been to a recording studio to record music or a song."

“For sure, even with the government pressing forward with its plans to expand subject combinations, the spotlight will always remain on the readiness of our teachers to meet the demands of these new specialties,” said Dr Bushini.